As temperatures soar past 45°C, UAE residents tackle the summer heat with brilliant fitness routines and well-timed workouts. A resident of the UAE recently went viral for sharing practical strategies on how to stay fit in the summer, motivating others to maintain their fitness goals despite the extreme weath.
Many individuals now run before sunrise or choose cold gym workouts and ice baths to stay fit during the UAE summer.
Daniel Oderinde, a former international sprinter and athletics coach in Dubai, observes a clear shift in how people train. “I see athletes adapting to the heat—not by stopping, but by changing their schedules and training in cooler settings,” he said.
He explained that he usually schedules morning runs before sunrise or heads out in the evening when it’s cooler. “I often run early in the morning, joining Grey Days 5K social runs with New Balance, or I run after work in the evening,” he said. “When the heat becomes too intense, I switch to treadmill sessions indoors to keep my routine safe and consistent.”
He noted that summer workouts demand extra planning, like getting enough sleep and hydrating before early morning runs, and managing meals and fluids throughout the day for effective evening sessions.
Significant Change in Fitness Habits
Julien Khoury, founder of the Dubai wellness center Breasy, noted that many residents of the UAE are changing their routines to adapt to the heat. “We’ve seen a clear shift in preferences as summer arrives, with more people choosing morning runs to make the most of the cooler hours,” she said. “Evening sessions have also gained popularity as temperatures begin to drop.”
To support UAE residents in learning how to stay fit in summer, Breasy has adjusted its schedule. “We’ve moved our outdoor workouts—including yoga, run clubs, and fitness classes—to earlier in the morning,” she said.
She added that Breasy’s evening programs now start slightly later and often wrap up with cold gym workouts, such as a refreshing plunge. “We also introduced a flexible, reduced summer schedule so our community can travel without falling off track. Our floating breathwork sessions at Aura Skypool, for example, now run every two weeks during the summer.”
Workouts with ice
Residents of UAE embraced a refreshing twist on fitness this summer as GymNation introduced innovative cold gym workouts at its Motor City branch. Dubbed the “Coolest Class in Dubai,” the Saturday sessions throughout July featured icy challenges designed to beat the heat.
The workout lineup included Blizzard Sprints, where participants ran on treadmills facing powerful fans; Polar Push, which involved pushing sleds with ice blocks; and Glacier Grip, where attendees carried buckets filled with ice in a test of strength and endurance.
Rory McEntee, GymNation’s Chief Marketing Officer, said residents of UAE responded enthusiastically to the concept. “The demand for these cold classes has been so high that we introduced a ballot system to ensure fairness,” he said. “Given the overwhelming interest, we’re already considering expanding the capacity and adding more sessions.”
