Dubai is now undoubtedly the hub for the wealthy in the Middle East. The Emirate city has spectacular architecture, world-class shopping experiences, and even an indoor ski slope open all year, negating the need to travel to Switzerland or further afield to the U.S.
However, that’s not all Dubai is becoming famous for. It is now fast becoming a hub for the fitness elite, rivalling places like California.
This trend emerged from the city state’s fifteen-year hospitality plan, which began in the 2000s. The city wanted to become one of the best places to stay in the world, so many hotels started offering state-of-the-art wellness facilities to their guests. This trend then morphed into focusing more on functional fitness, hence the current interest in Dubai as an athletic travel destination.
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“Dubai is home to some of the most advanced and luxurious gyms in the world,” says The Fitness Group which runs a personal trainer course in Dubai. “Many of the facilities are coveted by people all across the globe, including weight lifters, Olympic athletes and martial artists. It is incredible just how much expertise is now in the city.”
Dubai’s attractive tax incentives are part of the reason it has been so successful in this area. It’s inexpensive for gyms to move to the region and invest in their equipment. Dubai authorities want the big brand names to relocate to their city, bringing with them their personal trainers, fitness experts, and celebrated athletes.
This trend also means trainers want to be a part of the Dubai scene. Because of the number of gyms and wealthy, young clientele, they have so many potential trainees.
“For people looking to set up a freelance personal training business, Dubai is a dream come true,” says The Fitness Group. “Wealthy people love visiting the city and are willing to pay a premium for the best training advice. Professionals who enjoy travelling often want to work with trainers who can meet them at a moment’s notice and talk them through the local gym equipment, giving them a workout before they start their work days. Plus, the taxes are low too, meaning that anyone who does get into this industry can enjoy the privilege of keeping more of their hard-earned money.”
Fitness events and competitions are on the rise in Dubai. For example, the Dubai Muscle Show is a growing expo in the country’s lineup, popular among international celebrities looking to make their mark.
CrossFit Competitions, like the Dubai CrossFit Championship, are also now a critical part of the global circuit. These events attract many top athletes, encouraging them and their fans to travel to the city.
Dubai even instituted a month-long Fitness Challenge as a way to get more people in the city to become active. The country has an obesity problem, so the initiative is seen as a way of combating that and enabling more people to live healthy and active lives.
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“Dubai is becoming well-known as a luxury wellness tourism destination,” The Fitness Group explains, “with regular events adding to the mystique. People want to go to Dubai because that’s where all the action is taking place. It’s a thriving, bustling hub like no other!”
Of course, once athletes and enthusiasts stop training, Dubai offers every type of luxury imaginable. Wellness retreats are everywhere, allowing fitness enthusiasts to wind down effectively after intense sessions.
Cryotherapy is a big option in the city and is popular among visitors. It involved plunging into ice tanks or shivering in cold rooms to reduce inflammation and enhance the body’s adaptive response to training.
IV therapies are also popular in the city-state because of the lower cost of healthcare. These involve passing intravenous infusions into the blood for better recovery and adaptation.
Lastly, massage treatments are everywhere in Dubai. These pummel the muscles, allowing nutrients to reach the deep tissues for superior recovery.
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“Ultimately, Dubai is a kind of melting pot of tech- and science-driven fitness innovations,” The Fitness Group explains. “You have people and companies here experimenting with every type of new approach supported in the literature, helping people recover faster and get the results that they want from their training. It’s incredible to see so many resources all in one place.”
Dubai’s health-conscious culture isn’t going unnoticed. While the city’s local population has soaring rates of diabetes and issues relating to obesity, tourists and long-term visitors from overseas see the city differently. It’s one of the only places in the world where there is a buffet of health and fitness options in a tight space.
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