Abu Dhabi Council Rolls Out Free Senior Fitness Programs Across the City

The Department of Community Development Abu Dhabi has expanded its free fitness programming for residents aged 60 and above, with weekly sessions now running at more than a dozen venues across the emirate. The move, confirmed on the department's official channels this week, puts structured group exercise within walking distance of most urban neighbourhoods, at zero cost to participants.

Timing matters here. The UAE's National Ageing Policy, which the federal government formalised in 2023, sets explicit targets for increasing physical activity among adults over 55. Abu Dhabi's latest push is a direct response to that framework, and it arrives as summer temperatures push well past 40°C, making indoor, subsidised programming the only realistic option for most older residents trying to stay active through July and August.

Where the Sessions Are Running

Two flagship venues anchor the programme. The Khalidiyah Ladies Park on Airport Road, long a fixture for early-morning walkers, now hosts a three-times-weekly chair yoga and low-impact aerobics class every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. The Al Reem Island Community Centre on Najmat Abu Dhabi is running a separate strand focused on balance training and resistance band work, aimed specifically at fall prevention, on Monday and Wednesday mornings.

Beyond those sites, the Department of Community Development has partnered with Zayed Sports City to open indoor walking lanes to registered seniors free of charge on weekday mornings until the end of September. Zayed Sports City's main arena complex, off Mohammed bin Zayed City Road, is air-conditioned and accessible by the public bus network, which matters for participants who no longer drive.

The Al Mushrif area is also getting attention. Al Mushrif Mall's ground-floor public space is hosting a bi-weekly gentle stretching session coordinated by community health officers, an unusual use of retail space that organisers say draws residents who would not ordinarily seek out a sports facility.

Why Free Access Changes the Picture

Cost has historically been the sharpest barrier. Private gym memberships in Abu Dhabi typically run between AED 250 and AED 500 per month, and most senior-specific fitness classes at commercial studios carry per-session fees of AED 60 to AED 100. The World Health Organization recommends that adults over 65 accumulate at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, a target that becomes hard to meet when every session carries a price tag.

Group exercise carries additional benefits beyond the physical. Research published by the British Journal of Sports Medicine has found that older adults who participate in group fitness programmes report meaningfully lower rates of social isolation compared with those who exercise alone. In Abu Dhabi, where a significant portion of the older expatriate population lives away from extended family, that social dimension is not a footnote, it is part of the public health rationale.

Registration is straightforward. Residents can sign up through the TAMM platform, the Abu Dhabi government's unified digital services portal, or in person at any Department of Community Development service centre, including the one located on Electra Street in the city centre. Proof of age and an Emirates ID are the only documents required. Sessions are capped at 20 participants to allow instructors to monitor form and adapt exercises for individual mobility levels.

The programme runs through to 31 December 2026, with a review scheduled for October that could extend or expand it into 2027. Anyone with a pre-existing cardiac condition, joint replacement history, or other chronic health concern should speak with their GP or a specialist at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi or Sheikh Khalifa Medical City before joining, as the instructors running public sessions are not positioned to provide clinical assessment. The sessions are designed for generally healthy older adults, not as medical rehabilitation. Registration opens each month on the first, and July spots are still available as of this weekend.