Symmetry Gym in Dubai is the most expensive in the UAE. Courtesy Symmetry Gym.
Symmetry Gym in Dubai is the most expensive in the UAE. Courtesy Symmetry Gym.
Symmetry Gym in Dubai is the most expensive in the UAE. Courtesy Symmetry Gym.
Symmetry Gym in Dubai is the most expensive in the UAE. Courtesy Symmetry Gym.

The most expensive gyms in Dubai and Abu Dhabi


Sophie Prideaux
  • English
  • Arabic

You can't put a price on your health but, if you could, would you be willing to pay more than Dh30,000 a month to achieve your best self? That's what one of Dubai's most elite gyms is charging for its new 28-day Ultra Rich programme, which launched this month – Dh36,000, to be precise.

Symmetry Gym in Dubai's Gold and Diamond Park, founded by Amir Siddiqui, takes an unorthodox approach to training. This has gained a legion of loyal followers, and is what, says Siddiqui, justifies its cost. "I've worked with more than 2,000 people in the last 15 years and have developed a system that goes against everything we know and believe about fat loss, health and general fitness," he says.

The system he’s talking about is Fission Fusion Training, a concept that flips the age-old diet to exercise ratio on its head. Under this system, training is said to give you 80 per cent of your results, while diet gives you just 20 per cent. “Our Fission Fusion Training system is the result of 15 years of scientific research, empirical study and [findings] based in the trenches, training with thousands of people,” Siddiqui says. “It is a comprehensive, integrated and holistic training system that combines the mental and physical domains in equal measure to create a map for how to get results. It’s designed to push your limits of speed, strength and endurance in just the right specific mix."

Symmetry Gym in Dubai’s Gold and Diamond Park has launched a 28-day programme costing Dh36,000. Courtesy Symmetry Gym.
Symmetry Gym in Dubai’s Gold and Diamond Park has launched a 28-day programme costing Dh36,000. Courtesy Symmetry Gym.

And it's this training system that will be used during the new programme, described as "the most expensive and ­intensive 28 days of fitness in the UAE". At Dh36,000 – roughly half a year's rent on an average one-bedroom apartment – it's a hefty price tag, but Siddiqui maintains it is value for money.

“I personally take charge of the client’s 28 days of training, work schedule and life. I handle every single detail of how they live, eat and exercise,” he says. “The client undergoes a life-changing transformation using a custom programme, which includes intensive workouts, as well as the latest performance of mind techniques, and support from all gym personnel. We offer 24-hour support, food shopping, a fridge detox, nutrition programme, mentoring, weekly massages and daily performance assessments.”

The key to success, Siddiqui says, is consistency and hard work. It’s simple stuff, but he maintains that many people fall at the first hurdle. “The problem we see is that people do not know what ‘hard work’ means. My clients do,” he says. “Every single one of them will tell you they have never experienced training this intense and demanding.”

While Symmetry Gym wins the title of Dubai's most expensive, it is not the only UAE gym that comes with a lofty fee. In 2018, Dubai was named the world's second most expensive city for the average cost of a gym membership, coming in at $119.20 (Dh438) a month. Tokyo came in first at $127.

If you are looking to invest in your fitness regimen, here are some of the UAE’s most luxurious options.

The Body Company

The Body Company Abu Dhabi uses EMS training. Courtesy The Body Company
The Body Company Abu Dhabi uses EMS training. Courtesy The Body Company

If you want a luxe experience, but don't always have the luxury of time, The Body Company's EMS training is for you. EMS workouts are some of the most effective around, and, naturally, some of the most pricey. Trainers say only 20 minutes twice a week is enough to see results. It works by hooking participants up to an electronic muscle stimulation machine via a neoprene workout suit that has been dampened for maximum impact. If you put your all into it – contracting your muscles when the machine is buzzing for maximum impact – The Body Company in Abu Dhabi promises one EMS session can be up to 18 times more effective than a regular workout, with 90 per cent of the body's muscles engaged, as ­opposed to the 40 to 70 per cent used in a regular workout.

The Body Company has recently opened a new studio on Abu Dhabi's Corniche, where it offers users a boutique experience, with private parking spots and spacious changing rooms. Ten EMS sessions here start from Dh2,100.

Ultimate Performance

Ultimate Performance gym will open in DIFC on March 20. Courtesy Ultimate Performance
Ultimate Performance gym will open in DIFC on March 20. Courtesy Ultimate Performance

This DIFC gym has earned itself a reputation as one of Dubai's most hardcore. What sets it apart is its elite trainers, who will not only help you with all things fitness and nutrition, but also assess body-fat measurements, conduct hormone profiling, draw up sleep strategies, as well as help with stress management, smart supplementation and lifestyle optimisation. Ultimate Performance offers its members round-the-clock support, tracking and education to deliver results.

The trainers here pin ­themselves as the world's foremost body-composition experts, and their social media pages are filled with impressive transformations. It offers a number of 12-week training packages including fat-loss and muscle-building programmes, and the gym also runs regular group training sessions. Ultimate Performance's 12-week sessions start from Dh16,560.

Elite Fitness

As its name suggests, Abu Dhabi's Elite Fitness is not your average gym. The team of trainers have been hand-picked based on their knowledge and expertise. The gym is both mixed and ­women's-only. The trainers work with members every step of the way, offering support around losing fat and toning muscles, creating new habits, and making healthy and sustainable lifestyle changes.  

The facility, located near Zayed Sports City, features luxe changing rooms, with gold accents and velvet puff chairs, and a well-stocked kitchenette with a range of refreshments. The mixed facility membership costs Dh2,625 per month, while women's-only is priced from Dh2,350.

Embody Fitness

The lounge area at Embody Fitness. Courtesy Embody Fitness
The lounge area at Embody Fitness. Courtesy Embody Fitness

This is one of Dubai's most luxurious gyms. The exclusive gym, on the first floor of the Lamborghini building on Sheikh Zayed Road, is a concept imported from London. As well as personal training and group fitness classes, it offers nutrition advice, injury rehabilitation and sports therapy services, plus sports and therapeutic massages. To maintain its exclusivity, the gym is capped at 250 members, so it can offer support to everyone who joins. Each member is assigned a full team, including a nutritional adviser, sports therapist and personal trainer, who will work closely to help members achieve their goals.

Classes range from core strength, yoga and stretching to high-intensity interval training and cardio designed to boost metabolic conditioning. The gym markets itself as having "Olympic-­standard" training facilities, with luxury changing rooms and a members' lounge. It also offers a meal plan and home-­delivery services. Each session starts from Dh450 for eight to 12-week transformation programmes (as opposed to Dh200 per hour, on average, for a personal training session), while group classes are free for members.

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

War 2

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

Rating: 2/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
The specs: 2019 Audi A7 Sportback

Price, base: Dh315,000

Engine: 3.0-litre V6

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 335hp @ 5,000rpm

Torque: 500Nm @ 1,370rpm

Fuel economy 5.9L / 100km

WWE Evolution results
  • Trish Stratus and Lita beat Alicia Fox and Mickie James in a tag match
  • Nia Jax won a battle royal, eliminating Ember Moon last to win
  • Toni Storm beat Io Shirai to win the Mae Young Classic
  • Natalya, Sasha Banks and Bayley beat The Riott Squad in a six-woman tag match​​​​​​​
  • Shayna Baszler won the NXT Women’s title by defeating Kairi Sane
  • Becky Lynch retained the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing match
  • Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women’s title by beating Nikki Bella
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20Z%20FOLD5
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMain%20display%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%207.6%22%20QXGA%2B%20Dynamic%20Amoled%202X%2C%20Infinity%20Flex%2C%202176%20x%201812%2C%2021.6%3A18%2C%20374ppi%2C%20HDR10%2B%2C%20up%20to%20120Hz%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECover%20display%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.2%22%20HD%2B%20Dynamic%20Amoled%202X%2C%202316%20x%20904%2C%2023.1%3A9%2C%20402ppi%2C%20up%20to%20120Hz%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Qualcomm%20Snapdragon%208%20Gen%202%2C%204nm%2C%20octa-core%3B%20Adreno%20740%20GPU%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECapacity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20256%2F512GB%20%2F%201TB%20(online%20exclusive)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPlatform%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Android%2013%2C%20One%20UI%205.1.1%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMain%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Triple%2012MP%20ultra-wide%20(f%2F2.2)%20%2B%2050MP%20wide%20(f%2F1.8)%20%2B%2010MP%20telephoto%20(f%2F2.4)%2C%20dual%20OIS%2C%203x%20optical%20zoom%2C%2030x%20Space%20Zoom%2C%20portrait%2C%20super%20slo-mo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208K%4024fps%2C%204K%4060fps%2C%20full-HD%4060%2F240fps%2C%20HD%40960fps%3B%20slo-mo%4060%2F240%2F960fps%3B%20HDR10%2B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECover%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2010MP%20(f%2F2.2)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInner%20front%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Under-display%204MP%20(f%2F1.8)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204400mAh%2C%2025W%20fast%20charging%2C%2015W%20wireless%2C%204.5W%20reverse%20wireless%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205G%3B%20Wi-Fi%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%2C%20NFC%20(Samsung%20Pay)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20USB-C%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECards%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nano-SIM%20%2B%20eSIM%3B%20dual%20nano-SIMs%20%2B%20eSIM%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cream%2C%20icy%20blue%2C%20phantom%20black%3B%20online%20exclusives%20%E2%80%93%20blue%2C%20grey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fold5%2C%20USB-C-to-USB-C%20cable%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dh6%2C799%20%2F%20Dh7%2C249%20%2F%20Dh8%2C149%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

  • An arms embargo
  • A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
  • A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
  • A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
  • Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Belong%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Michael%20Askew%20and%20Matthew%20Gaziano%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Technology%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%243.5%20million%20from%20crowd%20funding%20and%20angel%20investors%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

Expert input

If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?

“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett

“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche

“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox

“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite

 “I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy

“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Seven tips from Emirates NBD

1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details

2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet

3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details

4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure

5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs  (one-time passwords) with third parties

6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies

7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

Essentials

The flights

Etihad (etihad.ae) and flydubai (flydubai.com) fly direct to Baku three times a week from Dh1,250 return, including taxes. 
 

The stay

A seven-night “Fundamental Detox” programme at the Chenot Palace (chenotpalace.com/en) costs from €3,000 (Dh13,197) per person, including taxes, accommodation, 3 medical consultations, 2 nutritional consultations, a detox diet, a body composition analysis, a bio-energetic check-up, four Chenot bio-energetic treatments, six Chenot energetic massages, six hydro-aromatherapy treatments, six phyto-mud treatments, six hydro-jet treatments and access to the gym, indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Additional tests and treatments cost extra.

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now