Working for Fitness First UAE

Dude not only are you being hustled but you are getting jabs to the face with this offer...

2800 AED a month? Do you know thats' like what 400 quids? a month? I know some personal trainers in Dubai at Festival City and I can tell their salary isn't much because they are jumping on every new member that comes into the gym for commission on personal training.

Some dude just wouldn't stop calling me, he wanted to be my personal trainer for 5000AED a month? Do you know what means here? That's a brand new 2009 Mercedes Benz S-500 that I could be driving instead of paying this dude.

NUTS!
-Joey

[sara81]

I would have to disagree with your comments. 2800dhs is the basic salary. You get commission on top of that immediately which can take you up to 25000 a month. As for the guy trying to sell you a package for 5000dhs a month. It is in fact 4750dhs and you get 30 hours of personal training with that and they are valid for 6 months, NOT 1 month. If you think it's expensive then fair enough, go buy a car instead. I happen to think Personal Training is an INVESTMENT in your health and if you get a good trainer (like me) then its's worth every penny.

[keko]

Hi,i,m thinking to move to Dubai to work like a Personal Trainer,which are the best options,it could be interesting to work in a hotel and no so stressfull,what about the visas,could someone help me!!!!thanks.

[leighfitness]

isn't it UAE law to provide rent allowance as part of a package?

[ExpatAl]

I do not think it is the law but most people get housing as part of the whole employment package.

How much that allowance is is up to you to negotiate. Some companies have their own accomodation for you to live in. But you then have no choice of location.

[Genghis]

Originally Posted by mikey10

Does anyone have any experience of working at Fitness First in Dubai / UAE? I have an offer to start as a Fitness Instructor for AED2800 per month for 3 months and then I can progress to Personal Trainer and keep just 50% of what I earn.

I am already a master personal trainer and it doesn't sound like much of a deal to me unless you just qualified.

Mate believe or not it is possible to spend that amount of money on a good weekend alone - honestly (it would be a pretty good weekend though)!
Are you sure its not 2800 per week?

[flossie]

Originally Posted by leighfitness

isn't it UAE law to provide rent allowance as part of a package?

No, it's not the law. If you do get housing allowance, it's not included when your end of service gratuity is calculated. So, in some cases, you may be better off not getting housing allowance and getting a higher salary instead.

[Slotty]

I would be extremely cautious about The Fitness First Operation - A friend of mine (won't mention his name) has been through the experience and raised the following points.

1.) No way can you live on the salary in Dubai and he has had to dip into to savings on the promise of future commission.

2.) FF do not intially sponsor your residency Visa - hence the three month intial probation so you are in effect working illegally !

3.) If you come from the UK they do not explain to you what you need to do to become a tax exile and therefore - you would be liable to pay tax on any sums you earn in Dubai once you finally return to the UK.

4.) If that isn't enough - please do some research in the web - there are many expats leaving Dubai at the moment with loads more probably in waiting for the school term to end. You have to ask yourself how many clients for personal training there will be.

Really sorry to be negative - I would encourage anybody to experience working overseas and Dubai in particular but I really do feel this would be a massive risk on your part.

[leighfitness]

I just got a job offer from FF yesterday and can confirm the above comments about theri salary. Yes it is bad, but there is a problem if you are a personal trainer - they have bought fitness planet and nautilus academy plus are opening another 4 gyms in Dubai alone this year. The amount of other gyms is decreasing (unfortunately) and FF are taking over! Thanks for the info on rent allowance. I am off to talk to people from Hayya and Collesium!

[webjunky]

u have got to be kidding me. even if they paid for food, housing, gas, car etc. 2800 is quite a joke. you will not get anywhere in life. save it for some college kid looking for extra cash.....