INDOOR POOLS

Escape the summer sun with an indoor swim...

Swimming is one of the joys we can regularly enjoy during the winter, with easy access to plenty of pools, from the luxurious to the free. In summer swimming gets a bit trickier, with scorching temperatures putting us off going for a dip. Luckily there are several well-equipped indoor pools in the UAE, so you don’t need to lather on the SPF 50 just to do some lengths.

FITNESS CLUBS

HAMDAN SPORTS COMPLEX

This fitness facility is located just off the Emirates Road. The wave-shaped building contains one of the biggest multi-purpose facilities in the world, with a convertible long and short course pool. There are two 50-metre swimming pools, both of Olympic standards with advanced technology of moveable floors, which means they can be transformed into 25-metre pools at differing depths. There are also diving stages at 10m, 7.5m, 5m, 3m and 1m. A day pass costs Dhs60 for swimming or access to the gym. a Hamdan Sports Complex, Emirates Road, daily 6am to 10pm. Tel: (04) 306 2666. hamdansc.com ETIZAN FITNESS AT ERTH This modern fitness facility offers an eight-lane swimming pool for swimmers of all abilities to get their lengths in. Etizan’s day pass is priced at Dhs151, which includes access to all the facilities, such as the state-of-the-art mixed and ladies’ gyms. There are also a huge range of fitness classes running throughout the day for you to take part in. a Etizan Fitness, Erth, Khor Al Maqta, Al Khaleej Al Arabi Road, Abu Dhabi. Tel: (0)2 497 5229. etizan.ae

FITREPUBLIK

At FitRepublik in Sports City, you’ll find an eight-lane 50-metre Olympic size swimming pool, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows, with a grandstand and acoustics for spectators to cheer you on. Perfect for those who want to include a gym workout with your swimming training, memberships start from Dhs656 per month for access to the entire facility: pool, gym, more than 350 studios classes, MMA facilities, grappling and wrestling mats, the cage and Olympic gymnastics facility (with trampolines, foam pits, and gymnastics apparatus). Alternatively, a Dhs157 day pass includes access to the pool only from 5.30am to 10pm. a FitRepublik Fitness Centre, The Academies, Sports City, daily 5.30am to 10pm. Tel: (04) 556 1800. fitrepublik.com

HOTELS

BULGARI HOTEL

This 25-metre indoor pool looks straight out onto the sea, so you can pretend you’re swimming with the fish from the safety of your temperature-controlled pool. There’s also a row of relaxing four-poster beds for once you’ve finished your lengths. Spa guests have full use of the facilities, with treatments ranging from Dhs500 for a 30-minute facial, up to Dhs4,500 for a 180-minute Royal Lulur treatment. a Buglari Resort, Jumeira Bay Island, Jumeira 2, daily, 9am to 10pm. Tel: (04) 777 5555. bulgarihotels.com THE ST. REGIS SAADIYAT ISLAND RESORT, ABU DHABI Luxe five-star hotel, The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi, features a state-of-theart fitness facility which welcome outside guests. The Athletic Club has Technogym weight and cardio machines with iPhone docking stations, group fitness classes, plus an indoor pool which is temperature controlled for ambient swimming. A day pass with full Athletic Club access is priced at Dhs158. a The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi, 6am to 12pm and 2pm to 7pm, Dhs158. Tel: (0)2 498 8777. @stregissaadiyatisland

BURJ AL ARAB

No seven-star hotel would be complete without a luxurious infinity pool overlooking the whole of Dubai. The resort actually has three outdoor and two indoor pools reserved for hotel guests to use. Visitors of Talise Spa can use the indoor pool, as well as jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and plunge pool. This might be one for the bucket-list, as treatments are upward of Dhs950 for a 60-minute massage. a Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah, daily, 9am to 9pm. Tel: (04) 301 7365. jumeirah.com