If you’re anything like us you spend most of your time in Abu Dhabi eating. With everything from brilliant cheap eats to the city’s best brunches, it’s easy to find some incredible food.
But exercise is just as important for a happy, healthy lifestyle, which is why we’ve done a roundup of all the best gyms in Abu Dhabi.
So whether you’re into dance, heavy lifting, yoga or boxing, you can find a way of making exercise actually feel like fun (yes, really).
Here’s where to work up a sweat in Abu Dhabi.
Barry’s Abu Dhabi
Workout fiends love Barry’s for a reason. The studio has just arrived at The Galleria Al Maryah Island and it’s bringing some of the city’s most intense workouts with it. Group sessions at Barry’s Abu Dhabi studio run in both rooms throughout the day. Classes will be offered every day of the week throughout the day. There will also be ladies-only classes, themed classes, live DJ classes, team teaches, challenges and much more to look forward to at one of the top gyms in Abu Dhabi.
To learn more about the new Barry’s studio in Abu Dhabi, click here.
Opening Sat Sep3. The Galleria Al Maryah Island, barrys.com
Bodyism
This swish fitness centre is found at the very beautiful Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort, and it’s just as pretty and fancy as the rest of this sensational hotel. With shiny studios and only the best equipment, the classes cover barre, Pilates, yoga, boxing, and also some specially created Bodyism classes too. For instance, Blueprint mixes interval training with yoga, Pilates and stretching (it sounds a bit odd, but it works, believe us), while Warrior is a high intensity circuit workout. This is one of the most intense gyms in Abu Dhabi.
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Open daily. Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort, Saadiyat Island (02 811 4444).
F45 Training Zayed Sports City
If you’ve hung around F45 for long enough, you’ve probably heard people talking about going to Varsity, Panthers, Romans and Docklands and wondered what on earth they’re going on about. Those are actually the names of some of the studio’s super-fun circuit workouts. Each class lasts 45 minutes, except for the hour-long Friday Hollywood class, which is also joined by a live DJ set, just to add to the fun. Sounds like one of the top gyms in Abu Dhabi.
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Ramp 40, Zayed Sports City, www.f45training.ae/zayedsportscity (056 332 3113).
Flo
If you’re looking for zen gyms in Abu Dhabi, this is by far the prettiest studio we’ve ever been to. Housed in a villa in Al Bateen, we wish we could move everything from the plush carpets to the fancy changing rooms into our own homes, but at least we get to come here to join in with packed schedule of fabulous classes. The ladies-only studio specializes in every kind of yoga and Pilates class you can think of, plus a few more.
For alternative places to do yoga in Abu Dhabi, click here.
Villa 34, Mileih Street, Al Bateen (02 644 6496).
Haddins
This isn’t one of your typical gyms in Abu Dhabi. Founder Michael Haddin leads his team of trainers on to push, challenge, educate and have fun with their clients. The place runs a variety of classes including boxing, pilates, circuit training and yoga. But it is best known for Primal Fitness – a 20-day, intense programme that focuses on body transformation through activities such as bending, pulling, pushing, running, squatting, jumping, and more.
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Primal Fitness, Zayed Sports City (02 403 4233).
Inspire Sports
This ladies-only gym is perhaps best known for doing The Trip, the famous spinning class by Les Mills. During these 40-minute sessions you really do get to escape to another world, as all the bikes are set up opposite a huge screen showing a 3D landscape. The special effects and soundtrack are brilliant, and each session will see you travel through Egypt, Santorini, Tokyo and many more amazing settings. It’s one of the best women-only gyms in Abu Dhabi.
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Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street, Al Bateen (050 157 5508).
PUNCH
Looking for the best gyms in Abu Dhabi? This is without a doubt the coolest boutique boxing studio in the capital. With stylish branding and merchandise, it’s all very Insta-friendly and it’s compulsory to post a least one selfie in your PUNCH gloves every time you go. Whichever class you choose, you’ll come out buzzing and feeling significantly less stressed. Funny how attacking a punching bag for 45 minutes can do that, isn’t it?
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International Tennis Complex, Zayed Sports City (02 666 9717).
Sweat
This boutique studio is ran by the same people who own healthy eating café Nolu’s, and Raw by Nolu’s is conveniently located just next door for when you want a post-gym smoothie or salad. But before you get to that stage you need to try out one of the awesome workouts. There are 45-minute spin sessions which are joined by upbeat tunes and glitter balls, intense Tabata sessions, challenging strength classes and a variety of ladies-only sessions too. As the name suggests, you’ll literally come out dripping.
For the best dance classes in Abu Dhabi, click here.
The Walk at Al Seef Resorts & Spa By Andulus, Khalifa Park area (050 232 8733).
The Room
Looking for gyms in Abu Dhabi? This one of the friendliest studios in the capital, and no-matter how nervous you are about joining a group fitness class (there’s really no need, but just in case), the welcoming staff will make you feel totally at ease from the moment you walk through the door. The Room started off specialising in spinning classes before it expanded to include other workouts like boxfit, Pilates, yoga and body pump.
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International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City (02 444 4945).
Vogue Fitness
CrossFit seems to be one of those things that you either love or hate, and judging by the fact that CrossFit studio Vogue Fitness now has three branches across the city, it’s fair to say that Abu Dhabi has gone a little bit mad for it. Consisting of fast-paced functional movements, Vogue Fitness Yas or CrossFit Yas is a bit of an institution in Abu Dhabi. The members are super dedicated, and there’s a real sense of community. Meanwhile, the studios in Al Raha and the recently opened one in Marina Mall offer a variety of high-intensity workouts, including the infamous Mayhem.
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Various locations, including Yas Marina, Yas Island (02 583 2380).
YogaOne
If all this CrossFit and functional training business sounds a bit much, you can always head for the more serene environment of yoga studio YogaOne. But while it might be calmer, it doesn’t mean that the workouts are easy. The hot flow classes take place in rooms heated to between 35 and 37 degrees, and the extra sweating will really make you feel the effects. The schedule also includes power vinyasa, Pilates, yin and meditation and more. This is one of the top gyms in Abu Dhabi.
For the best yoga classes in Abu Dhabi, click here.
Mangrove One Compound, Khalifa Park area (02 562 1217).
