A downtown street people come to for work
Hamdan Street, officially Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street, is one of downtown Abu Dhabi's shopping and office streets. For plenty of people it is where they spend the working day rather than where they live, and this page is for them: staff in the shops on the street, and people in the offices along it.
RPM is not on Hamdan Street. It is one club, on Level 4 of AD HUB Sports Complex in Al Manhal, and the mapped estimates put it a short drive from the street. Before you plan anything around a rota, read how to weigh any gym by the hours you can reach it.
Counter or desk: what each working day leaves you with
| Ask yourself | On your feet in a shop | At a desk in an office |
|---|---|---|
| How does the day tire you? | Tired legs and feet, and perhaps arms from moving stock | Stiff from sitting, and tired in the head more than the body |
| What should a session add? | Upper-body and trunk strength, with legs trained on fresher days | A full-body session that includes heavier leg work |
| What should stay short? | Long walking or standing cardio after a shift | Very little, as long as you slept |
| Which slot is worth asking about? | A weekday off, when the floor may be quieter | Straight after office hours, or before work |
| What would a coach plan around? | Your rota and your heaviest shifts | Meetings and late finishes |
Pain that comes from work is a question for a doctor or physiotherapist rather than a gym, so have it checked before you add training on top.
If you would rather a coach set this up, personal training at RPM plans sessions around what you want and when you can come, and a shop rota counts.
Training windows that retail hours leave open
Shop hours rarely line up with office hours, so set your rota beside the club's hours below before you choose a membership. For the wider question of a gym tied to your workplace, see choosing a gym near work.
- A weekday off: if your rest day falls midweek, it may be the strongest training day you have, with room for a longer session.
- Before opening: a morning session works when your shift starts late, provided you leave time to get back downtown.
- After closing: check whether your shop's closing time leaves enough of the evening before the club closes.
- The long break in a split shift: only if it is long enough for the round trip, a change of clothes and a proper session, which most breaks are not.
- Ramadan: shop hours and club hours both change, so rebuild the plan once you know each.
| Days | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Saturday to Thursday | 06:00–23:00 |
| Friday | 09:00–22:00 |
Hours can change, for example during Ramadan. Confirm with the team before a late or early visit.
Out of the downtown blocks and up to Level 4
The route box measures from the point of Hamdan Street nearest to RPM, so a shop or office further along the street adds some driving of its own. From that point the mapped route takes Mubarak Bin Mohammed Street first and then Al Falah Street, heading out towards Al Manhal.
At AD HUB the parking is free and on site, with a lift up to Level 4, so you leave the car once and go straight in.
When your employer is the one to ask
If several people at your shop or office keep the same hours and would train, raise it with your manager or HR team. RPM sets up corporate arrangements organisation by organisation, and the details are confirmed on enquiry.
Whether you come alone or as a group, take these questions to the free guided tour:
- Which tier suits a rota that changes from week to week.
- Whether coaches can book sessions once your rota is published.
- How busy the floor tends to be on a weekday morning, for a midweek day off.
- Whether a day pass is available, if you want to try a session before deciding. Availability and price come from the team.
Questions, answered.
Is RPM somewhere on Hamdan Street?
No. The club sits in Al Manhal, on Level 4 of AD HUB Sports Complex, and RPM has no other. For the mapped trip from Hamdan Street, see the route box above.
My day off is midweek. Is that a good day to train?
Often it is the best one you have. Weekday daytime hours may be quieter on the floor, though that varies, so check with the team about the hour you have in mind.
I stand all day at work. Should I still train my legs?
Usually yes, but not straight after your longest shifts. Put leg sessions on your day off or after a lighter shift, and ask a coach to balance the week. If standing at work causes pain, see a doctor or physiotherapist first.
Can I train in my lunch break?
Only with a long, fixed break. Add the drive in both directions to the time spent changing and training. For most downtown breaks that comes to more than the break allows, so the two ends of the day are the better bet.
Can women who work on the street train away from men?
Yes. The Ladies section is reserved for women, and it has a strength and cardio floor of its own plus the Pilates studio. Tiers differ in which sections they include, so check yours before joining.