< PreviousHEAL TH KICK 20 January 2025 timeoutdubai.com Burj Park NEW YEAR, Why not? Here are 12 easy ways to get your health kick on in Dubai. By Sian TraynorHEAL TH KICK timeoutduabi.com January 2025 21 R, NEW YOU? HEAL TH KICK 22 January 2025 timeoutdubai.com S o you’re ready for a health kick, New Year, new me and all that jazz. Well, give yourself a pat on the back, because this is the first step to going from couch to marathon, and we’re right behind you. If 2025 is going to be all about looking after yourself, then we have some top suggestions to get you started. Luckily you’re in Dubai, where there are gyms galore, cool classes to try and a huge community to keep each other motivated. There are no excuses now. On your marks, get set... go. CHECK OUT NEW CLASSES If you want to maintain a healthy fitness routine, you need to be doing exercise you actually enjoy. There’s no point sobbing while you sweat. The good news is, there are hundreds of classes out there, from the intense circuits at F45 or Barry’s Bootcamp to sweaty spin sessions or even a spot of yoga. Or if you don’t want to commit to just one studio, you can try it all with a ClassPass membership, where you pay a monthly subscription to try a selection of sessions. O From Dhs199 per month. classpass.com/plans. ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS Wake up and step outside, what a beautiful temperature, right? There are a lot of cities that aren’t treated to warm sunny days in January, so make the most of the weather and get out there. You don’t even need to be doing a workout to be active, for example, a wake surfing session with Wake Dubai will get you working that core without even realising (you’ll just be trying to keep both feet on the board). For something more gentle, ease into the day with a yoga session with Ignite water sports by the beach, followed by a dip in the sea to cool down. Fancy getting even further afield? Head to Hatta and get hiking. There are loads of trails and it’s a great way to spend time in the fresh air. Plus, it’s free. O Various locations across Dubai, wake-dubai.com, ignitewatersports.com, visithatta.com. GET THE STEPS IN An easy way to get moving is by walking and in Dubai’s cooler months you have no excuse not to be out in the fresh air. If you want to be out for an hour, power and hit 10,000 steps ASAP, try marching round the boardwalk on Palm Jumeirah, or weaving round the water at Dubai F45HEAL TH KICK timeoutduabi.com January 2025 23 Hatta LOOK AFTER YOUR WALLET, TOO BUY LOCAL PRODUCE While not everything is grown here, quite a few things are – like tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs. There’s also plenty of local seafood, plus local farms for dairy and poultry. For staples, pick food that’s locally grown and not only will you support the economy and help combat climate change (it’s more sustainable), but also you’ll help your dirham pool as it will be cheaper than imported produce. GET HAPPY HOUR SAVVY If you want to save money but can’t bear the thought of missing out on going out, the Dubai institution that is happy hour is your new best friend. Always happy and often lasting far longer than a single hour, the city is awash with amazing deals every day of the week, from buy-one-get-one free bonanzas to excellent discounts on food and beverages, multiple meal deals, drinks packages and so much more. Do your research and there’s really no need to pay full whack ever again. O Turn to page 44 for deals. MAKE THE MOST OF RESIDENT DISCOUNTS Sometimes pulling out your Emirates ID card can get you money off. Handy, right? Think discounts on massages, reduced rates on hotel stays, cut-price entry to the city’s greatest attractions and loads more. Treating yourself? It’s well worth enquiring if there are discounts for Dubai residents, you never know how much you might save if you ask. TRAVEL SMART Yes, jumping in a taxi is ever so easy and renewing your monthly hire car rental has become second nature, but imagine the dirhams you’d save if you gave both a miss for a few weeks (or at least curbed your usage). Instead, what about walking to work, hopping on the Metro next time you head out for dinner, hiring a Careem bike to navigate your way around, catching the bus, jumping on the tram or exploring the Palm by monorail. O rta.ae, careem.com, palmmonorail.com.HEAL TH KICK 24 January 2025 timeoutdubai.com Marina. Plug in your earphones and you’ll have done 7km before you know it. For those at the other end of the city, get a few laps in at Burj Park (which comes with some impressive skyline views), or stroll along Jumeirah Beach. O Burj Park; Palm Jumeirah; Dubai Marina; Jumeirah. JOIN A RUN CLUB Head out with a group for the sunrise or in the evening and smash that 5km. Running together, you won’t want to give up 500 metres in and plus, pacing it with other people is always going to make it much more fun. Most run clubs don’t cost a dirham either, so why not try a session with weekly social group Jumeirah Johns Running Club, get Careem bikes involved with well-established running club Dubai Creek Striders or try getting in a few kilometres with ROAR Fitness. Check their socials for all the details. O Various locations including roar-fitness.com, @jumeirahjohnsrunningclub, dubaicreekstriders.com. MEDITATE YOUR WAY TO CALMNESS Feeling stressed? It’s time to try meditation. Illuminations is all about helping people with their personal and professional development, and there are plenty of happy customers. There are in-person sessions like full moon meditation, inner child healing or healing a relationship, and you can also join in online. If you feel like your wellbeing needs some attention, this welcoming centre could be a good place to start. O Prices vary. Cluster T, JLT, illuminations.ae (04 448 7043). ORDER A HEALTHY MEAL PLAN If you’re struggling to kick off your health era because you don’t have time to cook (or don’t want to cook) then substitute your late-night takeaways for a healthy meal plan. Delivered to your door with pre-counted macros and packed with nutrients, all you have to do is reheat it in the microwave and bam, healthy dinner done. A giant in the UAE meal delivery market, Kcal has been sending out healthy meal deliveries to all corners of the city for HEAL TH KICK timeoutduabi.com January 2025 25 and workout to keep you on the straight and narrow. Not your usual gym, Ultimate Performance is for transformations only and its trainers are all about helping you smash those goals. Once your consultation is over, expect a tailor-made nutrition and workout plan, daily contact with your PT and even an app to keep you on track. Go check out its Instagram page (it could be you next). O Prices vary. Various locations including Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina, ultimateperformance.com (044319007). 3 HEALTHY MEAL DELIVERIES HEALTHY KITCHEN The new kitchen is all about eating green and clean – with all of the good stuff you need. Dropped at your door each day (ah, the ease), you can choose recipes packed with autoimmune support and organic fruits and veggies to keep your insides healthy. O healthykitchen.delivery. JET LAGGED CHEF If you’ve ever tried to track nutrition using apps such as MyFitnessPal you will know the difficulty of knowing what is on your plate. Every meal sent out from this innovative firm includes a barcode that lets you sync the precise measurements of all nutrients direct to your phone for tracking. It also shares all recipes for dishes in exclusive online areas for subscribers. Dinner and lunch packages five nights a week will cost around Dhs2,100 and include a couple of options to choose from. Healthy meal deliveries in Dubai just went up a notch with Jet Lagged Chef – and we’re here for it. O jetlaggedchef.com. MEALS ON ME If you decide on Meals On Me, you will not be bored of the menu choices with up to 30 meal options per day. Keto, vegetarian and vegan options are available and plans include wholesome, Arabic, Indian and international cuisines too. There is no need for healthy food to be boring with Meals On Me. Add this option to your list of go-to healthy meal deliveries and you’ll be smiling. O hellomealsonme.com. more than a decade, so why not give it a go. Much easier than cooking, and good for you too. For more inspiration check out the green box to the right. O Prices vary. kcallife.com. START PEDALLING Cycling doesn’t need to be racing through 90km on a skinny bike that you can’t balance on, it can actually be a great (and fun) way to get into your fitness phase. If you want something a bit gentler, hire an electric Careem bike for the day from any dock (you’ll find the map on the app) and take it easy. Or if you want to get into nature, take your own wheels out on the 50km-long loop at Al Qudra (just remember to stay hydrated). O Various locations, careem.com. RECOVER IN STYLE For those who love a spot of pampering, book in a muscle melt massage at Blended Wellness, try an infared sauna session at Embody Fitness opt for a sound healing meditation with the Seva Experience. Remember to schedule in those rest days, otherwise you’ll end up exhausted. O Palm Jumeirah, blendedwellness.com; Sheikh Zayed Road, embodyfitness.com; Jumeirah, sevaexperience.com. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS Remember to keep note of all the hard work you do, for added motivation. If you’re starting running for the first time, why not use the Couch to 5k app to give you pointers on how to increase your distance, or use a nutrition app to calculate your calories and other macros for the day. If you have a smart watch, make sure you have it synced up to track your steps, heart rate and all the other metrics to make sure you don’t miss a moment. O c25k.com. TRY HEALTHY RESTAURANTS Healthy food in Dubai is anything but boring, so if you still want to eat out, an easy way is to choose a spot dedicated to fuelling you on the inside. Hit your protein goals with a loaded poke bowl from Poke and Co, dine-out on a quinoa stack at Stomping Grounds in Jumeirah, or try the vegan ice-cream at the Wild & The Moon café in Al Quoz. O Various locations, pokeandco.com; Jumeirah, stompinggrounds.ae; Al Quoz, wildandthemoon.ae. WIN WHILE YOU WORK OUT Want to get some monetary gains from your exertion? A special initiative has been launched to encourage people living in Dubai to lead a more active lifestyle. Running until Sunday January 12, the Dubai Health Authority and Happiness Challenge will see 30 participants win a big cash prize. And the best bit? It’s totally manageable. All you need to do is download the Core Direction app, join the Health and Happiness Challenge and start doing what you can to collect points. If you collect 625 points between now and the middle of January then you’ll be entered into a raffle where you can be one of 30 people to share a pot of Dhs205,000. First prize is Dhs30,000, second is Dhs20,000, third to fifth get Dhs10,000 while sixth to 30th win Dhs5,000. Now that’s a happy New Year. O Until Sun Jan 12. coredirection.com. WORK OUT WITH A PERSONAL TRAINER If you need an extra push, there’s nothing like a person tracking your every meal Embody FitnessBREAKFAST WITH A VIEW 26 January 2025 timeoutdubai.com AURA SkypoolBREAKFAST WITH A VIEW timeoutdubai.com January 2025 27 Kick-start your morning with these breakfasts with a view. By Sian Traynor W hether it’s the weekend or you have the day off, there’s nothing better than making time for a tasty brekkie, especially when it comes with an iconic Dubai view. There are plenty of places across the city offering some delicious dishes and all-you-can-eat feasts, but if it’s a good view in particular you’re after, then we’ve got you (and your appetite) covered. For somewhere to enjoy a croissant or dig into a stack of pancakes while staring out at the vista, check out some of the sweetest breakfasts with a view below. AMAYA BURJ KHALIFA VIEW! Fancy a breakfast with a Burj Khalifa view? Of course you do. Check out the family-friendly breakfast at Amaya in Dubai Mall where you can enjoy a huge selection of breakfast dishes from just Dhs35. Get ready for an incredible meal in a gorgeous space. O Prices vary. Served Mon-Thu 10am-1am, Fri-Sat 10am-3pm, Sat 10am-4pm. Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, amayaintl.com (04 587 1000). AURA SKYPOOL 360-DEGREE VIEW! Perhaps one of the most brilliant starts to the day can be enjoyed at AURA Skypool, the world’s highest infinity pool perched at the top of The Palm Tower. You can graze on a selection of healthy bites and get a dish and a drink for Dhs95. What’s more, you can get some pretty amazing morning snaps while you’re at it. If you feel like splashing out, why not go all out and get a pool pass too? It will be a day out to remember, for sure. O Dhs95. Served daily 7am-9am. The Palm Tower, Palm Jumeirah, auraskypool.com (04 566 2121). BRUNCH & CAKE Born in Barcelona, Dubai’s four Brunch & Cake cafés not only look great – light and airy, accents of cream and beige, plenty of greenery and stylish oversize ornaments – but every sweet treat on the menu is as gorgeous to look at too. Enjoy traditional brunch classics (served all day), not to mentioned its raved about French toast and açaí bowls all while looking out over the lake at Jumeirah Islands – this place really has it all. O Prices vary. Served daily Mon-Thu 8am-11pm, Fri-Sun 8am-11.30pm. Jumeirah Islands, brunchandcake.com (04 422 5879). BYRON BATHERS One of the most stylish family-friendly seaside restaurants in town, and praised for its delicious breakfasts by the beach, Byron Bathers is a popular Palm hangout. The weekend breakfast menu is particularly good, with classic Aussie favourites, including eggs your way, crab omelette or healthy bowls. You can take a dip in the sea or play at the beach playground afterwards, too. O Prices vary. Served Sat-Sun 9am-11.30am. Al Manhal Building, Shoreline 4, Palm Jumeirah, byronbathers.com (04 323 7378). BUNGALO34 This is one gorgeous spot for breakfast. Found on Pearl Jumeira Island, below the residences at Nikki Beach, Bungalo34 is a stunning place to enjoy breakfast overlooking the sea. The Mediterranean-focused menu features dishes such as Greek scrambled eggs, roasted peppers, feta and crushed tomatoes. Tuck into lobster benedict, three-cheese soufflé omelette and more, all by the beach. O Prices vary. Served Sat-Sun 9am-11.30am. Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai, Pearl Jumeira, bungalo34.com (04 238 1780). START YOUR DAY WITH A SMILE Brunch & CakeBREAKFAST WITH A VIEW 28 January 2025 timeoutdubai.com CARINE The one thing wrong with breakfast at carine is that it’s only available on weekends – we’d happily spend every morning at this lovely little European spot eating creamy eggs benedict, avocado tartine and, if we’re feeling really naughty, waffles with chocolate sauce and whipped cream. We’re also particularly fond of the breakfast mocktails there, which are best enjoyed out on the terrace waiting for the other half to finish a round of golf. O Prices vary. Served Sat-Sun 9am-12.30pm. Emirates Golf Club, Sheikh Zayed Road, dubaigolf.com/carine (04 417 9885). DELIZIE GOURMET Found at Dubai Harbour Yacht Club, Delizie Gourmet is an authentic Italian cafe with pretty stunning views of the Dubai Marina skyline and Ain Dubai as a backdrop. The breakfast menu includes a selection of dishes from the oven, fruit and cereals and Delizie signatures. If you sit inside the classic café, check out the display of Italy’s favourite pastries and desserts or if you opt for a terrace table, be sure to order the homemade iced tea to cool you down. It’s the ideal spot if you have visitors in town. O Prices vary. Served daily 8am-2pm, Dubai Harbour Yacht Club, deliziecaffegourmet.com (058 514 0400). DRIFT BEACH DUBAI Only in Dubai does breakfast come with far-reaching sea views and the promise of a luxury pool day, but that’s exactly what you’ll get at DRIFT Beach. A place where beautiful people gather for the likes of fresh fruit bowls, avocado toast, truffle scrambled eggs and the perfect espresso. It’s one of the chicest beach clubs in town and the ideal winter morning, so head along and enjoy eggs with a view at this swanky spot. O Prices vary. Served daily 9.30am-noon. One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai Marina, driftbeachdubai.com (04 315 2200). EGGSPECATATION AIN DUBAI VIEW! Prepare for stunning views of the beach and Ain Dubai when enjoying a stack of pancakes as big as your head at eggspectation. For egg fans who love them whipped up in myriad ways (there are 11 eggs benedict choices) and options for those not so obsessed (think waffles and pancakes) it is a dependable option for breakfast plans with great views. It’s also a top spot for with kids (the choc chip pancakes are a hit, trust us) before you head for a day on the sand. O Prices vary. Served daily 7am-midnight. The Beach JBR, eggspectation.com (04 430 7252). ELLA’S EATERY TOP DEAL! Take in the view of an endless fleet of luxury yachts while enjoying an unlimited breakfast experience at Ella’s Eatery. Choose from a selection of six dishes from the extensive menu, as well as your choice of a steaming hot beverage or a refreshing, freshly squeezed juice, all for Dhs89. Tuck into breakfast classics such as avocado toast, organic eggs, shakshuka, pancakes and tasty breakfast bowls. Furry companions are welcome, too. O Dhs89. Served daily 8am-noon. Palm View East, Palm Jumeirah, ellaseatery.com (04 557 0984). JONES THE GROCER BEACH BREKKIE! One of the most popular breakfast destinations on Palm West Beach, Jones’ traditional English breakfast fry-up will hit the spot. With eggs on sourdough joined by beef sausages, beef bacon, sautéed mushrooms, baby spinach, vine tomatoes and homemade hash browns, it’s a top shout. O Prices vary. Served daily 7.30am-midnight. Palm West Beach, Palm Jumeirah, jonesthegrocer.com (054 998 6162). LEEN’S CASUAL TO GOURMET With incredible views of Dubai’s Museum of the Future, Leen’s at Jumeirah Emirates Towers is a fantastic place to grab a bite to eat and kick back. Delivering top-quality food in a chilled-out, relaxed setting. You’ll love the Mediterranean breakfast and all throughout April and May, any breakfast dish that you order will come with a free drink. Choose from different coffees including cappuccino, flat white to cortado and a Spanish latte. O Prices vary. Served Sat-Sun 8am-2pm. Emirates Towers Boulevard, Sheikh Zayed Road, leens.com (04 388 0553) carineBREAKFAST WITH A VIEW timeoutdubai.com January 2025 29 Bungalo34Next >