The city’s outdoor exercise enthusiasts are increasingly finding inventive new ways to stay fit while keeping out of the sun.
Our city isn’t short on well-equipped, modern sports facilities. However, many people avoid gyms for all sorts of reasons, such as membership fees, crowds and location. For those who enjoy keeping fit outdoors throughout the year, you can now maintain your exercise routine with the Abu Dhabi Mall Walkers. The group’s membership numbers are continuing to swell and they offer a great solution for anyone looking to stay in shape during the extremely hot summer months.
Visitors to the mall would never be able to tell, but every day during the week fitness fans gather at 7am to walk in circuits in the air-conditioned environment. The activity is free and simply requires you to register beforehand which means you have to fill out a form at the security kiosk along with a copy of your passport or Emirates ID and a passport-sized photo. You’ll then receive a special photo ID which you’ll need to be able to access the mall in the early hours.
There is no set routine, you may head in any direction and you basically have the run of the entire mall. Save for a few maintenance workers, the venue is often quiet and only frequented by those serious about fitness. With a serene set-up and a cool environment, walkers stroll though the different levels at varying speeds. Some people even spend a lot of time just simply going up and down the mall’s stairs, which would, of course, be nearly impossible to do if the centre was brimming with busy, bustling shoppers.
To learn more, visit www.abudhabi-mall.com or call 02 643 4005.
Indoor classes to try this summer
Super Abs
Great classes at Sheraton
Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort. Al Markaziyah (02 677 3333).
Tae Bo
Hilton Abu Dhabi can keep you cool the next few weeks.
Al Khubeirah, www.hilton.com (02 692 4324).
Zumba
Bodytree Studio runs sessions indoors throughout summer.
Al Bateen (02 443 4448).
The mall the merrier
Karen Khlat, marketing manager at Abu Dhabi Mall, talks keeping fit in a shopping centre and how you can sign up.
When did the Abu Dhabi Mall Walkers group first start and what has the feedback been like from your members?
It started in 2002. We have almost 1,000 participants who all seem happy to be provided with a suitable climate-controlled environment in order for them to walk and exercise.
How can people join?
You can register for free at our customer service desk for a membership card that entitles the holder to mall access every day to exercise.
When can people come and how do you deal with issues of safety?
Every day from 7am-10am.
We have security staff that are trained in safety and first aid at all times on the ground.
Tell us about the roots of this project and why it started. Heat can be a real challenge and it’s not always easy to exercise and keep healthy and fit during summer without having to register in a private club. Moreover, today, gyms in buildings are becoming a common thing but in 2002, it wasn’t the case. The idea was to provide people with the opportunity to exercise and walk in a suitable, large enough, climate-controlled environment and provide a vital component of a healthy lifestyle.
