The first fitness centre for kids opens in Dubai to help UAE reduce childhood obesity by more than 20% by 2021
Dubai, The first kid’s fitness centre, Little Gladiators, has opened its doors to help the UAE wage battle with its childhood obesity epidemic. Located at the Golden Mile Galleria Mall, on Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, Little Gladiators is the first of three fitness centres, exclusively for children, planned for the emirate.
Created by expat husband and wife entrepreneurs Javed and Shanna Gani, Little Gladiators is inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to reduce childhood obesity in the UAE from the current rate of 34% to 12% by 2021.
Little Gladiators co-founder Javed, said: “When we moved to Dubai a year ago we were looking for a business idea to launch in the emirate. We looked at many options but it was Sheikh Mohammed’s work to improve the health of the nation that really captured our attention. We used this as a springboard to create a placefor affordable family fun that is also another first for the emirate of Dubai, while also tackling one of the decade’s most pressing health problems.”
Covering an area of 7,400 square feet, Little Gladiators offers Gymnastics, Interactive Wall Climbing, Tree Climbing, Virtual Sports gaming, Kids’ Yoga, Kids’ Cardio, Kickboxing, Kids’ Hammam, Kids’ Spa and a Swimming Pool with highly qualified instructors leading all lessons. The gym also hosts pool parties for birthdays and special occasions, private family swimming lessons and the latest aerobics classes for mums, taught by female instructors.
Javed adds: “Sheikh Mohammed is always reminding people about the importance of health but nobody had taken this advice and created abusiness to support these goals. Once we identified this gap in the market we couldn’t wait to get started on this original and unique idea. This is the first time a facility dedicated to children’s fitness has opened in the UAE with this range of activities and sports.”
The first Little Gladiators opens to children aged 3years –14years on 10 AUGUST 2017 at Golden Mile Galleria Mall, on Palm Jumeirah. Annual membership is reduced to AED999 per child for unlimited visits, with each branch accepting up to 1,000 members. Two further Little Gladiators centres will open in Dubai over the coming months.
