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Starting a Personal Training Business in Dubai

Updated 27 August 2024

Health, fitness and wellbeing is indeed a huge business. As per the latest projections, by the end of 2021, the global demand for exercise equipment itself is expected to be worth AED 45 billion. Apart from the increase of equipment, applications and wearable devices, the need for a personal trainer is one of the major […]

Brenda5 min read

Health, fitness and wellbeing is indeed a huge business. As per the latest projections, by the end of 2021, the global demand for exercise equipment itself is expected to be worth AED 45 billion. Apart from the increase of equipment, applications and wearable devices, the need for a personal trainer is one of the major market sectors that has expanded considerably. This does not come as a surprise as to why there has been a rise in demand for fitness-related jobs in the country over the past couple of years. Not just that, but all over the world, the fitness industry has already achieved universal attention and is booming.

The people of the UAE have a fondness for keeping a balanced lifestyle and physical wellness. It is projected that more than 1,400 exercise outlets will function in the UAE by 2022 and will be well dispersed throughout the entire country.  If you are enthusiastic about the fitness or have the expertise required to train someone, it is pretty simple to get started in the UAE as a personal trainer. Ultimately, you can say goodbye to your mundane 9-to-5 work and transform your dream of being a boss of your own into practice.

How to Start a Personal Training Business in Dubai

Just like launching any venture in the UAE, there are a few considerations you need to undertake before you can apply for a business license. The first and foremost step is to decide and set up your business activity. This activity must be compatible with one of the hundred activities allowed within the UAE. To guarantee that the licensing allows you for your preferred business activity, it is a wise choice to collaborate at this point with a company formation specialist or a professional who can recommend others that are suited better to your business.

The next move is to select the name of the business. It needs a little more thinking in the UAE than in countries. This is because the UAE has a strict but easy-to-follow series of naming conventions. Once again, a business set up specialist will help you with this step, making sure you stick to the given guidelines. Additionally, you should refrain from using some provocative or blasphemous words. It is better to avoid using the names of well-known companies and prevent abbreviations if you are naming the business after yourself. You must also verify if your preferred name is eligible for registration.

There are two steps when applying for a personal trainer license in Dubai. The first phase is to apply for a business license. The best way to do this is to apply to a free zone of the UAE. You can apply directly to a free zone or consult with a business set up specialist who can handle the whole selection and application process for you. You will also need to register for a work permit to trade around the UAE mainland. Job permits are provided by the General Authority for Youth & Sports Health in Dubai. Both license approvals may be handled by a business set up specialist on your behalf.

If you make the application yourself or through a company formation consultant, you are typically only expected to include a few specifics and some basic paperwork, including:

  • Completed application form

  • Passport copy of the proposed owner or owners

  • Two coloured passport size photos.

The application process is also quick, with all company paperwork normally provided within a week.

If you are seriously considering becoming a personal trainer in the UAE, then you’ll need to know that there are specific criteria that you need to follow in order to get approval to work as a trainer. As the fitness industry has now become very popular, it has also become highly competitive. You, therefore, ought to get at least a Level 3 Certificate or Diploma in Personal Training—entry-level qualification for the UAE personal trainer business. In addition, the holder of this diploma may work in a one-on-one client gym or become a free agent, i.e. a self-employed personal trainer.

In addition to gaining the required certifications, possessing the necessary qualifications, skillset and obtaining the correct licenses, you will need to focus on yourself as a person to become one of the best and most matchless trainers out there. It’s just not enough to be able and skilled; you need to be exceptional at what you do. Then only you can provide true value to your consumers and please them absolutely since a happy customer is better than any marketing campaign you can employ.

Once you have fulfilled your qualification obligation, you will now need to register as a certified personal trainer with the UAE Register of Fitness Practitioners (REPs UAE). This Authority oversees and lists all fitness practitioners in the UAE who bear licensed credentials and work as personal trainers or gym trainers. Membership of REPs is mandatory for all health practitioners in the UAE, as required by the Dubai Sports Council.

How Can We Help You?

So, if you are planning to start your own fitness facility, the process is a little more complicated. You will need to receive a professional license from the Department of Economic Development (DED) to carry out your business. Once you’ve been approved from DED, you can then obtain a leasing agreement for the location of your choice in Dubai. As this phase can be complicated, it is advisable to obtain advice from a UAE company formation expert before embarking on this move. Our consultants at Riz and Mona Consultancy are experienced setting up a new business in the UAE. Contact us today to book your appointment.

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Published 6 January 2021 · Updated 27 August 2024