Without a doubt the hottest facility launch of the year so far has been FitRepublik, smartly and stylishly located in the heart of Dubai Sports City.
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Up and running only about a month now, it is nevertheless already a hit with the community, young and old. Sport360° takes a closer look to find out why.
Did my 1st #MMA class today at @FitRepublik with Hannah from @WomensHealthME Super fun & challenging workout #Fitness pic.twitter.com/vrYzBAcHmR
— Maha Abouelenein (@mahagaber) February 10, 2015
An Olympic swimming pool is one of many jewels in the shiny FitRepublik crown. Push a button and a wall beneath splits the pool in half so that Learn-to-Swim classes can take place in the shallow end side by side with triathlete training or adult swim fitness in the deep end, with no interruptions.
There is also plenty of stand seating for parents to look on from, and we reckon this space will do well in hosting big swim competitions and events in the future (hint, hint).
In fact, swimming programmes also include competitive and recreational squads for juniors, and an aquatic club is launching any minute, allowing members to participate in meets.
To the left of the pool is a well kitted functional indoor training zone catering for their adult CrossFit classes and kids’ functional training sessions alike. Meanwhile outside is receiving an impressive obstacle course for boot camps, Ironman and outdoor CrossFit workouts.
They’ve made very good use of the gym zone, with dedicated sections full of specialised equipment for elite, Olympic and power lifting, cycling, rowing and more, and upstairs there is a very lovely and spacious cardio zone with all your fail-safe classics – the treadmills, ellipticals, bikes etc.
They also stock some workout units that you wouldn’t normally see in other gyms but which might personally tickle your fancy – such as a Jacob’s Ladder, a cardio conditioning 45-degree treadmill climber; and a VertiMax, the world’s leading speed and jump training system, geared towards serious sprinters and jumpers.
Gymnastics in particular has been booming since the launch because FitRepublik boasts the only permanent and Olympic equipped gymnastics arena in the UAE, and all coaches are ex-national or ex-Olympians.
Recreational and competitive training is offered for tykes as young as two all the way up to adults. There are even elite invite-only gymnastics sessions for kids vying for floor time at Olympics 2020!
That said, the MMA zone – complete with boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, karate, judo, taekwondo, BJJ, Capoeira and wrestling equipment, as well as an awesome octagon, plus current and ex-professionals in these sports on hand to guide you every step and kick of the way – will definitely be a big hit too.
#AquaZumba is a great way to stay in shape, engage your #core and add #resistance #training to the mix. Tried it yet? pic.twitter.com/oZDVAXg80Z
— FitRepublik (@FitRepublik) February 11, 2015
Two large group class studios help cater to the hundreds of classes they host including various forms of yoga, Pilates, Zumba, dance, aerobics, spin, Les Mills sessions, and more. Kids yoga and ballet are on the way.
As big as the space already is, it’s set to get even larger with the impending launch of Nathalie’s Café: Coffee and Kitchen, a health-conscious and clean comfort food pit stop not to miss on your way out of a workout, or while waiting for kids.
On top of that, FitRepublik’s retail space stocks high quality supplements such as PAS Nutrition, the official supplements partner of the English track team and many Premier League teams; alongside other fitness and exercise related products and accessories.
FitRepublik co-founder Ali Al Amine is extremely proud of the finished product, and for him, to choose his preferred activity area is like picking a favourite child.
No matter how old you are or what kind of activity you’re doing; you have to warm up first! #BeginnerGymnastics pic.twitter.com/R6TtnnV91a
— FitRepublik (@FitRepublik) February 1, 2015
He says: “The passion for this not only comes from the demand and opportunity Dubai offers, and my desire to be in an entrepreneurial role, but also from my passion for sport – I am a mountaineer, a triathlete, CrossFitter, swimmer… all of this is where the idea came from [for FitRepublik].
“I have a favourite area within every zone of the space, not just one; if you put me in the swimming pool area… well I personally like the combination of functional training that entails that you jump in the water, jump back out, carry a kettlebell, then go back in the water again… I feel like a child again in the gymnastics area, love to jump on the trampoline and land in the foam pit; and I do like to do a bit of sparring in the octagon too, it makes me feel like an elite fighter even if I’m nothing close.”
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu knows no age! Our adult classes take on anyone starting age 16 and up. #MMA #PowerToThePeople pic.twitter.com/TUDSYlM5ui
— FitRepublik (@FitRepublik) February 4, 2015
He adds: “We’re already started sponsoring athletes and absolutely plan to host as well as endorse athletes. This is not a gym; we’re very welcoming here, very personalised, collaborative. Our job is to partner with you to make better versions of who you are.”
Membership options are pretty flexible and worth looking into – the basic package includes access to the gym, classes, and use of different sporting zones when not in group use.
If you opt for the Basic +1, it means you can tack on full use of one sporting zone such as the CrossFit facilities. Basic +2 allows for two disciplines at once, and so forth. You can switch disciplines every three months throughout the duration of your contract.
A premium membership allows you free reign of everything at FitRepublik, while outside guests can pay Dh150 to use all facilities for a day.
This is indeed a place where everybody can find something that’s either fun or focused to do, and where they’ll be in good hands. For more information, visit
www.fitrepublik.com
