2 days ago
These are the best swimming pools for fitness in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi has no shortage of pretty swimming pools. However, not all of them are suited to swimming laps and working out.
After all, every swimmer knows the pain of having to dodge those who are just in the pool to chat and lounge (the audacity), while you desperately try to hit your target distance.
Fortunately, the below all give 'serious' swimmer-only vibes. Spanning everything from Olympic-sized training pools to outdoor lanes, your swimming era officially starts here.
321 Sports
Located in the centre of Hudayriyat Island, where there's also Surf Abu Dhabi and the soon-to-be-open Velodrome, you probably won't be surprised to hear that 321 Sports has an amazing outdoor lap pool. Semi-Olympic-sized and fitted with 25-metre-long lanes, day passes can be purchased for Dhs90.
From Dhs90. Daily 6am-11pm. Hudayriyat Island. @321sports_hudayriyat (02 691 0256).
Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub
We challenge you to find a prettier place for a swim than the Olympic (50 metres) outdoor pool at Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub. The lane set-up alternates between 50 and 25 metres throughout the week.
Top tip: visiting in the early evening treats you to wonderful sunset views as you tick off those laps. If you finish hungry (who doesn't after a swim?), the hearty pub grub at the neighbouring The Boundary is the perfect post-workout feed.
Dhs30 (drop in), Dhs250 (ten-session pass). Open Mon, Wed-Fri 9am-9pm, Tue 9am-10pm, Sat-Sun 7am-7pm. Khalifa City, @abudhabisportshub (02 558 8331).
Etizan Fitness
Offering one of the only indoor Olympic pools in the city, Etizan is many swimmers' favourite place to train. Inviting you to perfect your techniques sheltered from the sun's rays, ladies-only sessions are offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and all the facilities are modern, sleek and of the best possible quality.
If you have time and leftover energy after your dip, the enormous Etizan gym is next-level epic, while the lagoon-shaped pool and private beach are absolutely stunning.
From Dhs151 (day pool pass). Daily 6am-11pm. Erth Abu Dhabi, Khor Al Maqta, Al Khaleej Al Arabi Road. @etizanfitness (02 497 5229).
Al Jazeera swimming pool
Part of Abu Dhabi's iconic Al Jazeera sporting campus, the indoor, Olympic-sized Al Jazeera swimming pool comes with professional starting blocks and 10 spacious lanes.
Measuring as deep as four metres in parts, it's ideal for advanced and super keen swimmers, while Cleopatra Sports Services (the pool's operators) provides swimming programmes and private and group lessons as well. Offering eight swimming sessions for as little as Dhs189 (to be used within one month), we don't hate that it's one of the cheapest places to swim in the city either…
From Dhs189. Sun-Thu 9am-9pm, Fri-Sat 9am-7pm. Al Jiwa Street, Al Nahyan, (052 114 2222).
MBZ City Sports Center
Set out in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, right on the outskirts of the capital, MBZ City Sports Center is a bit of a trek for the Downtown and Reem Island crowd. However, it's absolutely worth the drive. The official training centre for Abu Dhabi Aquatics Club, the temperature-controlled, indoor Olympic pool will host the prestigious Finswimming World Championship 2025 this winter and it's kitted out with the best facilities that money can buy.
Offering swimming lesson programmes for kids and adults, ladies-only swim sessions and wide 50-metre lanes, it's also fully wheelchair accessible and the swim coaches are renowned for being some of the best in the country.
Open daily 6am-10pm. Mohamed Bin Zayed City, @mbzsportscenter (02 551 2700).
Rosewood Abu Dhabi
Credit: Rosewood Abu Dhabi
Allowing you to combine a relaxing pool day at one of the city's most luxurious hotels with a proper swim workout, the palm-tree-lined, elevated pool at the Rosewood Abu Dhabi is open to outside guests seven days a week. The two 25-metre lanes let you let loose and knock off some distance uninterrupted, while the shaded cabanas are ideal for a well-deserved, after-swim snooze. Inviting you to make a whole day of it, the weekend day passes include Dhs100 in F&B credit.
Dhs180 (weekday), Dhs300 (weekends). Open daily 6am-11pm. The Galleria Al Maryah Island, @rosewoodabudhabi (02 813 5550).
VOGO Abu Dhabi Golf Resort
Family-friendly VOGO Abu Dhabi Golf Resort caters to every kind of swimmer.
While the huge recreation and kids' pools keep the leisure swimmers at bay, you're free to enjoy the 25-metre laned lap pool in peace. Allowing you to storm up and down to your heart's content, there's no fancy membership required to use it either. Instead, you can simply drop in and buy an hour's lap pool pass for Dhs50, or treat yourself to the equally reasonable 'Splash and Dine' day pass for Dhs100, including the full amount back to spend at the pool bar.
From Dhs50. Open Mon-Thu 7am-7pm, Fri-Sun 8am-8pm Sas Al Nakhl, @vogoabudhabigolfresort (02 616 9999).
