How Dubai's Gyms Are Adapting After Reopening

Dubai gyms have re-opened to the public and these are the major health and safety changes to their classes, machines, and more.

Posted on

28 May 2020

| Last updated on 28 May 2020

How Dubai's Gyms Are Adapting After Reopening

The re-opening of Dubai fitness and sports centres comes with requirements that must be followed by all.

Gyms, fitness centres, and sports clubs in Dubai were some of the first public facilities to close their doors when the COVID-19 pandemic hit UAE shores.

Now, after a little over two months of closures, gyms and other sporting facilities across Dubai are now welcoming members back, but things will look very different compared to how they were last seen in March.

UAE authorities allowed the re-opening of fitness centres across the country from Wednesday, May 27, as long as they adhere to a list of health and safety requirements.

New changes in Dubai gyms and sports facilities

Centres can only accept 50 per cent of their normal capacity, with 2-metre social distancing where possible. This applies to the venue as a whole as well as fitness classes.

Common gym equipment such as dumbbells, kettlebells, weightlifting bars, bars and plates, and medicine balls have a strict ”calendarisation basis”. This means equipment cannot be used by up to two people at the same time. All gym equipment must be sanitised before being used by another member.

Plastic separators or partitions will be used between gym equipment, such as bikes.

Shower and changing rooms will not be open for use.

Fitness classes will have 45-minute intervals between for deep sanitisation, and will not run back-to-back.