Dubai to introduce registration for fitness professionals

As part of a push by the Dubai Sports Authority (DSA) to regulate fitness in the United Arab Emirates, exercise professionals and fitness facilities in Dubai will be required to register with the authorities by the end of the year.

With concern that trainers and facilities operate without qualifications or insurance, from the end of the year, all instructors will have to be Registered Exercise Professionals, needing to meet specific standards, hold recognised qualifications and follow a code of ethics.
Dubai residents will be able to check online to see if a trainer is registered.

According to Original Fitness Company owner Corey Oliver the regulations are long overdue, Australian-born Oliver stating "it is a worthwhile process because all trainers will be insured."

Trainers without identification will be issued a warning, with a fine for a second offence.

A third breach will result in deportation.

Oliver, who set up his company in 1996, adds "it will definitely stir things up a lot ... it's getting out of hand.

"For the people doing it legally, they have to pay all these bills each year to get insurance. But people just come in and promote themselves, act like a company, branding like a company, but not incorporated or insured as a company.

"We pay about Dh80,000 (US$21,000) in Dubai and Abu Dhabi a year on licences and insurance, then there are people taking shortcuts by getting a trade licence for Dh16,000 (US$4,300) from Ras Al Khaimah."

Oliver hopes consistent legislation will be rolled out across the UAE, although some licensing requirements are already in place in other Emirates.

Sheikha Al Muhery, head of private centres and clubs at Abu Dhabi's General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare, said gyms must go through the authority before opening.

Once an application is made, Abu Dhabi Police must issue a no-objection letter, then the application goes to the Economic Department, which will issue a trade licence. Afterwards, inspectors from the authority examine the premises and equipment.

Al Muhery said coaches and trainers must go through the same visa-vetting process as any other expatriate worker, and their qualifications attested by the relevant federations.

The high number of freelance coaches in Abu Dhabi irritates other sports professionals.

Stephen Haddin, of Haddin's gym at Zayed Sports City adds "it frustrates me.

"I called for it (regulation) two years ago with the health authorities as it will create a stronger fitness industry.

"You have a lot of unqualified and unregulated people in the market, which is a risk. Someone is going to get injured."

Jonathan Clayton, of Middle East Fitness Professionals, agreed with the idea of stricter rules.

Clayton explains "it'll be great to get regulations because there are a lot of trainers who may not have certification or got them a long time ago and never kept them up, and are making loads of business out of it."

For more information go to www.mefitpro.com

18th May 2010 - DUBAI PLAN TO LICENSE PERSONAL TRAINERS