Post-vacation bulge getting you down? You’d be hard pressed to find a better fitness club deal to fall back on right now in Dubai than Target Gym’s incredible Dh4.50-a-day offer. Too cheap to believe, we just had to see what all the fuss was about.
Indeed, members of this ever-expanding homegrown fitness chain have spare cash to boast about, plus uninterrupted access to multiple Target clubs conveniently located across Dubai…with more opening up in other Emirates too.
Target’s modest yet well-equipped studios aren’t just geared toward affordable fitness for all, they are what general manager and Founder Ismail Mahmoud likes to call “neighbourhood gyms”, being stationed in such residential hubs as International City, Discovery Gardens and others, to ensure easy access, a “friendly neighbourhood” feel…and no excuses.
This is but one of several important features to the Egyptian, having had his own issues in the past in fitting workouts in at faraway mall-based mega-gyms, where anonymity and obscurity are an inevitable outcome of being a client, too.
“Five years ago I was a member of a big health club chain in Dubai. I always had to drive to the mall to reach it, struggle to find parking, the health club was expensive and nobody cared about me; the only time anyone spoke to me was when I signed up for membership – to them I was just a number on the system,” explains Ismail.
“I was not getting results because I did not know what to do, the only option was to take personal training which was very expensive,” he adds. “So I cancelled my membership, but only after a long battle as I was locked in a one-year contract and automatic monthly payments.
“Later, I joined another gym near my home. It was cheap, but it did not have certified trainers or a good workout environment.
“Due to my frustration, I started Target Gym with one goal in mind: provide a great fitness experience at the lowest possible price. We believe fitness is something that everyone should be doing; exercise should be treated like food and water,” he says.
Members enjoy free reign of Target Gyms’ state-of-the-art equipment, cardio and resistance training, high-energy group exercise classes, and guidance from certified personal trainers plucked from all over the globe.
The Al Nahda gym, known as Target Aerobics, is exclusive to ladies (save for two hours in the evening when they allow mixed training), while another set to open soon in Silicon Oasis will be geared both part-time enthusiasts as well as those serious about it.
Alongside everyone’s favourite group exercise classes such as Zumba, Yoga, Body Pump and Body Combat, to name a few, Target have also taken the time to create signature sessions like T-Stretch, T-Abs, T-Spinning and something called T-Challenge – a hard-hitting, high-energy strength and cardio class where ‘variety’ is the buzzword.
And did we mention members can attend all these classes for free? Tack on clean and comfortable shower and locker facilities, a couple complimentary personal training sessions and the occasional social table tennis tournament, and the total yearly sum of just Dh1,642.50 (Dh4.5 per day) is still just baffling. Target Gyms offer a trio of membership options (available in 3-, 6- and 12-month payment plans, the latter being the cheapest), and they are pretty unique and flexible:
The Responsible (Dh1,642.50/yr): This member is responsible for setting his/her own fitness targets and going at it solo to achieve their intended results. With full gym and group class access, they do get an introductory boost from two free PT sessions though. Suited to those with prior training knowledge.
The Experience (starting from Dh5,500 for 2 sessions a week for 2 months; Dh8,360 for 3 sessions a week for 3 months): This package – whether targeted across 3 or 6 months – allows the member to train two or three times a week as he/she fancies – alone on the gym floor, in groups, as well as on a one-on-one basis with a trainer.
The Transformation (available in packages where the more sessions you pay for, the cheaper it gets; PT sessions start from Dh130): Recommended for those who just thrive in the social setting offered by group exercise classes, or alternatively for those who crave the exclusivity and individual attention that comes from PT. Gym access may not be included, but the opportunity to have fun or go hard and see results is.
What: Target Gym
Contact & info: JLT (SABA 2 Tower, Q cluster) – Tel: 044210372; Discovery Gardens (Zen 04 – Building 13) – Tel: 044541665; International City (P 9 France cluster – Tel: 044472447; Target Aerobics Al Nahda (Shop 6 Al Khalifa Building) – Tel: 04 2661287
