This week, we speak to Yousuf Al Gurg, founder of Dubai’s original calisthenics and parkour gym, Gravity.
Welcome to the Emirates Man series ‘How I Got My Job As…’, where we speak to incredible entrepreneurs and business leaders based in the UAE and globally, uncovering their career paths, daily routines, challenges, and advice for those looking to follow in their footsteps.
What began as a niche concept while he was studying architecture at the American University in Dubai evolved into a regional lifestyle brand, earning him the title of Emerging Emirati Entrepreneur of the Year in 2017. His career has since expanded from the gym floor to global influence through a strategic stake in the World Calisthenics Organization and a transition into the public sector. Now working with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, Al Gurg contributes to the D33 Economic Agenda to double the city’s GDP by 2033, applying the same discipline he developed as a professional footballer and mountaineer to shape the city’s economic future while maintaining a focus on community and human connection.
Scroll through the full interview to read Al Gurg’s journey.
What was your favourite subject at school?
Sports, without a doubt. It was the one class I used to look forward to every week. It’s no surprise to me that I eventually ended up starting a fitness business.
What was your first job?
My first real job was starting and running Gravity. I didn’t follow the traditional route. I went straight into building something from scratch. I was still a university student at the time. It meant figuring everything out as I went, from coaching and operations to the business side of things. Most of what I learnt came through trial and error rather than textbooks. It was chaotic, but it taught me more than any structured role could have.
What inspired you to enter the fitness industry and launch Gravity Calisthenics Gym?
It started as a passion. I came across calisthenics on the internet at the time, was keen to get more into it, and I could see there was nothing like it in the region. Most gyms followed the same model, and there was a gap for something more exciting and skill-based. Gravity came from wanting to build a community around movement, both for myself and for wider society.
Talk us through the concept.
Gravity is where you come to break away from the rigidity of how we move through everyday life. Most people spend their days sitting, stuck in predictable patterns. Gravity is the opposite of that. It’s a space where you relearn how to move – where you build up to standing on your hands, to flipping, to developing real strength and control over your body. The key is progression.
Everything is structured in a way that meets you where you are. Whether you’ve never done a push-up or are a gymnast, in your teens or in your 60s, there’s a clear starting point and path forward. The concept also challenges the idea that you need machines to get fit. At Gravity, we believe your body is the tool. Gravity itself is the resistance. That’s all you really need. For adults, it’s about pushing boundaries and unlocking new capabilities. For kids, it’s where they get to move the way they’re meant to. To climb, jump, and explore, instead of being stuck behind screens. To sum up, Gravity is about freedom of movement.
What are the key elements of your role?
A big part of my role is constantly looking ahead and finding creative ways to unlock new opportunities, whether that’s expanding into new markets, building partnerships, or evolving the product itself. It’s a lot of problem-solving and connecting dots that aren’t always obvious. At the same time, it’s about staying composed when things don’t go to plan. Growth isn’t always linear, especially with a young business, you’ll have more downs than ups. Being able to stay level-headed, adapt quickly, and keep the team aligned is just as important as the strategy itself. It’s a balance between pushing forward and staying grounded.
Yousuf Al Gurg, founder of Gravity
Talk us through your daily routine.
My day usually starts early with a short run. It helps me clear my head and makes me much more productive throughout the day. From there, I shift into my government role, which brings a completely different pace. It’s a lot of strategic thinking, meetings, and working through initiatives that shape the bigger picture. Later in the day, I head to Gravity. That’s where things become more hands-on for a workout. It’s also when I catch up on operations and make sure everything is moving the way it should. It also allows me to stay close to the community at the gym and see first-hand what’s going on.
The faster you can adapt, listen, and evolve, the better your chances of building something that actually works. It’s about resilience, but also humility.
What advice do you have for anyone looking to follow in the same footsteps?
Have thick skin and be relentless. Things won’t go your way more often than they will, especially in the beginning. You’ll face setbacks, criticism, and a lot of uncertainty, but you have to keep pushing through it. At the same time, stay open to advice. One of the biggest mistakes people make is holding too tightly to their initial assumptions. In reality, most of them won’t play out the way you imagined. The faster you can adapt, listen, and evolve, the better your chances of building something that actually works. It’s about resilience, but also humility.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Hire the person, not the CV. Without the right character, the best credentials will deliver nothing.
And what is the worst?
Probably being told to play it safe. If I did, Gravity would never have been born.
What’s the biggest challenge you have had to overcome?
COVID and the 2024 Dubai floods. Both tested the business in very different ways, but they had one thing in common: they forced us to adapt quickly under pressure. COVID was a complete disruption. Overnight, everything stopped. It pushed us to rethink how we operate, stay connected to our community, and keep the business moving despite the uncertainty. The 2024 floods affected us directly, the whole facility was flooded and underground. It took us 2 months to get the facility back in shape and running. Both experiences delivered the same lesson: no matter how well you plan, there will always be things outside your control. The key is how quickly you respond, how you lead through it, and how you come out stronger on the other side.
What lies ahead for the brand?
I don’t want to give away much, but quite a few exciting things. Expect Gravity to have a stronger pull, wherever you are.
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