Anyone living in Dubai?

Hey all,

I have just recently joined, I am 27, 181cm and 76 kg, so I am pretty close to being fit, but I would pretty much like to build some muscles on my shoulder and arms especially while getting rid of my little love handles :)

I was wondering if there is anyone who resides in Dubai in MFP. Would be nice to meet up.

Replies

  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    I live in Bahrain, not too far away from you :) probably too far away for a meet up, but nice to know others are in the same region
  • mockchoc
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
    One of my MFP friends does I believe. I'll pass on your name and tell of the thread.
  • nathanalgren
    nathanalgren Posts: 30 Member
    I live in Bahrain, not too far away from you :) probably too far away for a meet up, but nice to know others are in the same region

    Nice :) No idea about Bahrain though, I am still quite illiterate about the area.
  • nathanalgren
    nathanalgren Posts: 30 Member
    One of my MFP friends does I believe. I'll pass on your name and tell of the thread.

    Cool! Thanks!
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    I live in Bahrain, not too far away from you :) probably too far away for a meet up, but nice to know others are in the same region

    Nice :) No idea about Bahrain though, I am still quite illiterate about the area.

    it's an islands (well, group of islands but the main one is much bigger than the others) in the sea west of Qatar, which is west of the UAE and across the sea from Dubai. Bahrain's an independent state but lots of people seem to think it's part of the UAE and MFP doesn't have it on their countries list, so my account says I'm living in the UAE.

    Bahrain's nice, apart from a little civil unrest every now and then... economically it's very similar to the UAE, just the UAE is more stable
  • nathanalgren
    nathanalgren Posts: 30 Member
    Just checked it on the map, you are way closer to Qatar than UAE. It is looks like a nice island. Is it ruled by Islam? If so, is it quite flexible with laws like Dubai or strict?
    I live in Bahrain, not too far away from you :) probably too far away for a meet up, but nice to know others are in the same region

    Nice :) No idea about Bahrain though, I am still quite illiterate about the area.

    it's an islands (well, group of islands but the main one is much bigger than the others) in the sea west of Qatar, which is west of the UAE and across the sea from Dubai. Bahrain's an independent state but lots of people seem to think it's part of the UAE and MFP doesn't have it on their countries list, so my account says I'm living in the UAE.

    Bahrain's nice, apart from a little civil unrest every now and then... economically it's very similar to the UAE, just the UAE is more stable
  • Arwaxx
    Arwaxx Posts: 113 Member
    i am from Oman which is 4 hrs away from Dubai ;) welcome
  • tas3980
    tas3980 Posts: 93 Member
    I lived in Dubai in 2007; currently reside in the capital, Abu Dhabi, have been here since 2008. Welcome to the region, and the site :smile:
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    Just checked it on the map, you are way closer to Qatar than UAE. It is looks like a nice island. Is it ruled by Islam? If so, is it quite flexible with laws like Dubai or strict?

    It's a Muslim country, and the laws are relaxed like in Dubai/UAE, in fact it's very similar to UAE in a lot of ways, which is maybe why some people think it's part of the UAE. You're right it's much closer to Qatar, but I think anyone who thinks Bahrain is part of the UAE probably hasn't looked at the map that closely lol.

    The main problem in Bahrain is the anti-government protests and occasional attempted coup-d'etats. Apart from road blocks/closures due to protests, it's easy to stay away from the trouble and my husband's employer sends him text messages to warn of any upcoming protests etc, to avoid the area etc. The main difficulty is getting stuck in traffic or having to make detours due to roadblocks. A sat-nav is a very useful and recommended thing to have in Bahrain.

    It's a really nice place to live though, and you're never far from the beach either. The sea is only a minute walk from my apartment :)
  • OrientalFinn
    OrientalFinn Posts: 1 Member
    I am in Qatar. Welcome to the region! I find it very difficult to remain fit in this region. Am a fan of outdoor sports, used to go jogging all the time, and walk to places, instead of driving. Here all I have is the threadmill, which is not that appealing...
  • nathanalgren
    nathanalgren Posts: 30 Member
    I lived in Dubai in 2007; currently reside in the capital, Abu Dhabi, have been here since 2008. Welcome to the region, and the site :smile:

    Thank you! Still have not been to AD, but hopefully soon!

    It's a Muslim country, and the laws are relaxed like in Dubai/UAE, in fact it's very similar to UAE in a lot of ways, which is maybe why some people think it's part of the UAE. You're right it's much closer to Qatar, but I think anyone who thinks Bahrain is part of the UAE probably hasn't looked at the map that closely lol.

    The main problem in Bahrain is the anti-government protests and occasional attempted coup-d'etats. Apart from road blocks/closures due to protests, it's easy to stay away from the trouble and my husband's employer sends him text messages to warn of any upcoming protests etc, to avoid the area etc. The main difficulty is getting stuck in traffic or having to make detours due to roadblocks. A sat-nav is a very useful and recommended thing to have in Bahrain.

    It's a really nice place to live though, and you're never far from the beach either. The sea is only a minute walk from my apartment :)

    That is awesome! I mean that you love living there, because in Dubai I met so many people who keeps whining about living here :)
    Thank you for the all info!
    I am in Qatar. Welcome to the region! I find it very difficult to remain fit in this region. Am a fan of outdoor sports, used to go jogging all the time, and walk to places, instead of driving. Here all I have is the threadmill, which is not that appealing...

    That is exactly my problem. In Amsterdam I always biked to the university or work or just to meet friends etc, so everyday just to do routine, I was biking around 1 hour, so never needed to be in a gym. Now I never walk or run or bike here. Taxi or metro. So I needed a gym to not gain weight and it has worked so far.
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    I am in Qatar. Welcome to the region! I find it very difficult to remain fit in this region. Am a fan of outdoor sports, used to go jogging all the time, and walk to places, instead of driving. Here all I have is the threadmill, which is not that appealing...

    That is exactly my problem. In Amsterdam I always biked to the university or work or just to meet friends etc, so everyday just to do routine, I was biking around 1 hour, so never needed to be in a gym. Now I never walk or run or bike here. Taxi or metro. So I needed a gym to not gain weight and it has worked so far.

    exercising outdoors in the summer is a problem here :/ but I'm used to working out at home, I have weights etc, after living in Saudi where the nearest women's gym was hundreds of miles away and there were no mixed gender gyms. I see quite a few people cycling round here, although it's the middle of the winter so the best weather for it... I don't think midsummer would be a good time to cycle here!! There are loads of gyms round here, at the moment I'm looking for work, when I find work I'll probably join a gym for a bit of variety. I've been walking here, although that's something I don't think I'll be able to continue in the summer. More people here walk to places than in Saudi, but I don't know how it compares to the UAE.
  • Hayaa79
    Hayaa79 Posts: 458 Member
    Hey I was in DXB til 2010 & then rarely visit the place I was working in Dubai Pearl that time

    there r a lot of gyms there & the best is Dubai Ladies Club :)
  • nathanalgren
    nathanalgren Posts: 30 Member
    exercising outdoors in the summer is a problem here :/ but I'm used to working out at home, I have weights etc, after living in Saudi where the nearest women's gym was hundreds of miles away and there were no mixed gender gyms. I see quite a few people cycling round here, although it's the middle of the winter so the best weather for it... I don't think midsummer would be a good time to cycle here!! There are loads of gyms round here, at the moment I'm looking for work, when I find work I'll probably join a gym for a bit of variety. I've been walking here, although that's something I don't think I'll be able to continue in the summer. More people here walk to places than in Saudi, but I don't know how it compares to the UAE.

    Well now the weather is awesome to walk by the marina or beach, but as you said in a few months, it will be disaster. I have a gym in the apartment I am staying, so it is not a problem. What I meant was now I need to spend time for gym and working out, while in Amsterdam my daily life would do it for me, without putting extra effort or `wasting` time in the gym. But now I decided to focus on muscle building, so gym will have more meaning and will be necessary :)
    Hey I was in DXB til 2010 & then rarely visit the place I was working in Dubai Pearl that time

    there r a lot of gyms there & the best is Dubai Ladies Club :)

    Ladies Club would probably not let me in :)
  • tas3980
    tas3980 Posts: 93 Member
    AD's only an hour down the road, though it took me about ten months to come down after I arrived. Contrary to what you might get told, we have things to do down here, hahaha! Granted, not as many options as Dubs but still worth a visit :smile:

    Last summer, I still walked on the Corniche after work, it just means you sweat more... only moved to my apartment's gym at Ramadan when your not allowed to rehydrate in public. Maybe see if you can find a trainer to come to your gym to help with the muscle building, my trainer is a god-send!
  • chooriyah
    chooriyah Posts: 469 Member
    I'm in Yemen, so not that far away (: I like how we've got a little 'Gulf' thread going!
  • SLLeask
    SLLeask Posts: 489 Member
    I was in Dubai from 2001 to 2008, have you checked out the rubber running track round Safa Park yet (I assume it's still there!)? This time of year is perfect for an early morning / evening run around and there used to be markers on the ground at point so you know how far you have gone.
  • Ilovevwgolf
    Ilovevwgolf Posts: 564 Member
    Abu Dhabi :glasses:
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    exercising outdoors in the summer is a problem here :/ but I'm used to working out at home, I have weights etc, after living in Saudi where the nearest women's gym was hundreds of miles away and there were no mixed gender gyms. I see quite a few people cycling round here, although it's the middle of the winter so the best weather for it... I don't think midsummer would be a good time to cycle here!! There are loads of gyms round here, at the moment I'm looking for work, when I find work I'll probably join a gym for a bit of variety. I've been walking here, although that's something I don't think I'll be able to continue in the summer. More people here walk to places than in Saudi, but I don't know how it compares to the UAE.

    Well now the weather is awesome to walk by the marina or beach, but as you said in a few months, it will be disaster. I have a gym in the apartment I am staying, so it is not a problem. What I meant was now I need to spend time for gym and working out, while in Amsterdam my daily life would do it for me, without putting extra effort or `wasting` time in the gym. But now I decided to focus on muscle building, so gym will have more meaning and will be necessary :)

    the a/c's in the gym will have special meaning especially!! yeah I know what you mean about not having to worry about that, when I lived in the UK I walked everywhere. Putting weight on after moving to the Gulf is very common, so it's great that you've decided to intervene early to prevent that.
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    I'm in Yemen, so not that far away (: I like how we've got a little 'Gulf' thread going!

    Yes I like this thread :) If there's enough of us maybe we could form a group for people living in the Gulf....
  • tas3980
    tas3980 Posts: 93 Member
    Great idea... set one up: Arabian Gulf MFP'ers :smile:

    Can anyone else think of a better name, I didn't bring my brain to work today :yawn:
  • Minerva624
    Minerva624 Posts: 577 Member
    Nope but once I went to Dubai to buy a car, ;)