Many Dubai residents do not live in one place all year. Some spend the winter here and the summer in Europe; others divide their time between Dubai, London and a family home elsewhere. Fitness often follows the same pattern: strong progress for a few months, then a reset every time the suitcase comes out. The fix is not two separate plans. It is one plan that travels with you.
I’m Gawhar Ahmad, licensed pharmacist and head coach at Being Fit. Clients who split their year are a natural fit for our VIP personal training package, which includes a travel-with-you option, but the principles below work on any package. Our coaches train clients at home across Dubai, including villas and apartments on Palm Jumeirah. Here is how to keep one plan across two homes.
Key takeaways
- Keep one programme and one coach, and adapt it to each location.
- Set up a small, matching kit in each home so the core exercises never change.
- Use live online sessions and short check-ins while you are away.
- Plan the first week in each place as a lighter week for travel and jet lag.
- Keep the nutrition rules the same, and adjust the menu to local food.
Why does fitness reset when you move between homes?
Usually because the routine, equipment and coach all change at once. The gym is different, the exercises change, nobody tracks the numbers and the first week is lost to jet lag and catching up. A few weeks later you are starting from a lower point than you left. Our article on the minimum effective dose explains why a little training through a disrupted period beats stopping altogether.
How do you keep one plan across two homes?
- One programme, two versions. Your coach writes the main plan for Dubai and a version for each other home, using the equipment you have there.
- Matching core kit. A set of adjustable dumbbells, resistance bands, a mat and a bench in each home means the key exercises never change. Our guide to building a home gym covers what is worth buying.
- Live online sessions. The same coach on video keeps technique and accountability on track while you are away.
- Shared numbers. Weights, measurements and check-ins go into one place, so your coach sees the full year, not two halves. Our post on tracking progress beyond the scale explains what to record.
- A handover before each move. A short review before you leave: what to keep, what to drop, what to test when you return.
How should the first week in a new place look?
Lighter. Long flights and time-zone changes affect sleep, energy and appetite. The NHS advises changing your sleep schedule to the new time zone as quickly as possible, going outside during the day so natural light can help your body clock adjust, and avoiding daytime sleep. We usually plan the first few days around walking, mobility and one or two shorter strength sessions, then build back to a normal week. Our guide to staying fit on business travel has more on flights and hotel workouts.
What about food in each home?
Keep the rules the same and let the menu change. A protein portion at each main meal, plenty of vegetables, sensible portions of starchy foods and alcohol kept within limits works in any kitchen. If you have a chef or household cook in each home, the same chef-ready menus can be adapted to local produce; our article on working with your private chef explains how. Every package includes a customised nutrition plan from the qualified nutritionist on our team.
Does the coach travel with you?
On the VIP package, a travel-with-you option is available, together with a dedicated personal trainer, complete nutrition control, 24/7 WhatsApp access and 5 to 6 elite sessions a week when you are in Dubai. We take only 4 VIP clients per year, so each client gets real attention. On other packages, live online sessions and WhatsApp check-ins keep the plan going. Our post Is VIP personal training worth it? covers who the VIP package suits.
Coming back to Dubai
Returning in October or November is a good moment to re-test. Your coach checks strength, mobility and measurements, compares them with your last Dubai block and adjusts the plan. The cooler months are also the best time to train outdoors here; our guide to training outdoors in the cooler months has ideas.
Palm Jumeirah
On Palm Jumeirah, sessions take place in your villa, apartment or residence gym, with the Boardwalk and beach paths ideal for walks and mobility from November to March. Our Palm Jumeirah private coaching guide and Palm Jumeirah home personal training page have local details. The full range is Essential (3 sessions a week), Signature (4 a week), Premium (up to 5 a week, at your home or building gym, with priority scheduling) and VIP (5 to 6 elite sessions a week), each with a customised nutrition plan, and the World Health Organization guidelines are a sensible minimum wherever you are. Pricing for every package is on our packages page, or WhatsApp for pricing on 058 572 2691.
Want one plan that keeps working in every home? See what our VIP personal trainer in Dubai package includes. Our Health & Fitness professional-led team is here to help: call 058 572 2691, WhatsApp us on 058 572 2691, email info@beingfit.ae or book your free trial and assessment. Every way to reach us is on our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep the same coach while I am abroad?
Yes. Live online sessions with the same coach keep your programme going, and the VIP package includes a travel-with-you option.
What equipment do I need in my second home?
A small matching kit is enough for most plans: adjustable dumbbells, resistance bands, a mat and a bench. Your coach will tell you what suits your programme.
Will I lose progress over a summer away?
Less if you keep training. Two or three shorter sessions a week, planned by your coach, make it much easier to pick up where you left off.
How many VIP clients do you take?
We take only 4 VIP clients per year, each with a dedicated trainer.
How do I see pricing?
Pricing for every package is on our Packages page, or WhatsApp us on 058 572 2691. Your first session is a free trial and assessment.
Sources
- NHS: Jet lag
- World Health Organization: Guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour, 2020
- NHS: Physical activity guidelines for adults aged 19 to 64
- NHS: The Eatwell Guide
This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant or take regular medicines, speak to your doctor before starting a new exercise programme.
Choosing a coach? Read our guide to the best personal trainer in Dubai: seven honest checks before you book.
