DUBAI 17 August 2017: 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 to reduce childhood obesity in the UAE from the current rate of 34 per cent to 12 per cent by 2021.
“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 place for 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,” said Javed.
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.
The first Little Gladiators opens to children aged 3 years –14 years on 10 August 2017. Annual membership is reduced to Dh999 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.
By Sheena Amos