“If you build it, they will come.” This iconic line from 1989’s Field of Dreams could easily have been coined by Emirati entrepreneur Yousuf Al Gurg, the founder of Dubai’s first callisthenics gym.
When Yousuf first discovered the world of callisthenics, he found that Dubai didn’t have a single space dedicated to the discipline. So, true to the legendary cinematic quote, he decided to open one himself. In 2015, he built Gravity Callisthenics Gym – and, sure enough, they came.
Today, Gravity Callisthenics Gym is more than a training facility – it’s a thriving community, a place where people come both to challenge their limits and to connect.
“Our gym isn’t like a traditional one,” Yousuf says. “People spend an average of five hours here, not because they’re training all that time, but because it’s their hangout spot. They come to learn, to socialise, to belong.”
But building one of the region’s most pioneering fitness spaces wasn’t always the plan. A graduate in architecture, Yousuf’s early years were spent on football pitches rather than pull-up bars. “I started playing football at 13 and continued until I was 23,” he recounts. “When I stopped, I moved into mountaineering. I was drawn to that combination of physical endurance and mental focus.”
That pursuit took him to the heights of Spain’s Mount Aconcagua, the second-highest of the Seven Summits and the tallest mountain in the Southern Hemisphere. “It was a 21-day expedition, one of the toughest and most rewarding experiences of my life,” he notes. “There’s a shared mindset between mountaineering and callisthenics – both push you beyond your limits, physically and mentally.”
It was during his university years, while studying architecture, that he found the practice of callisthenics through YouTube videos. “I was fascinated by what the human body could achieve with no equipment, just strength and control,” he says.
A local workshop by the World Callisthenics Organisation (WCO) introduced him properly to the sport, and the idea for Gravity began to take shape. “After that first workshop, I knew I didn’t want to train in isolation. I wanted to create a space where others could experience this too,” he reveals.
When Gravity Callisthenics Gym opened, it quickly found a healthy clientele, comprising both professional athletes and curious newcomers. To this day, inclusivity remains its core. “We have kids as young as four training alongside adults in their sixties,” Yousuf says. “Whether you’re a beginner who can’t yet do a push-up or someone aiming for a handstand, we’ll meet you at your level and help you progress.”
That sense of flow came, in part, from his architectural background. “Architecture taught me to think holistically. How people move, how they interact, how a space makes them feel,” he explains. “I wanted Gravity to feel open and energising, not dark or intimidating. And that philosophy extends to how we run the business too… You design systems that people can move through with ease.”
Yousuf’s approach to resilience is a personal one. Years before launching Gravity, a severe spinal injury from football left him in a wheelchair and, temporarily, without hope of returning to sport. “Doctors told me I might not walk normally again,” he remembers. “But that challenge became my motivation. Callisthenics helped me rebuild strength and defy those expectations.”
That same determination defines his approach to entrepreneurship. “When I started the gym, I was young and thought I knew everything,” he says with a laugh. “Running a business humbles you quickly. You learn by failing, by testing ideas, by adjusting course. It’s about consistently experimenting
and improving.”
In 2019, his commitment to growing the sport expanded beyond the region. Yousuf and his business partner acquired a 33 per cent stake in the World Callisthenics Organisation, cementing their global influence.
“We wanted to expand callisthenics education as well as competitions worldwide,” Yousuf says. “When we host events in Dubai, we get participants from over 30 countries. It’s amazing to see the UAE at the heart of it all.”
While Gravity continues to thrive, Yousuf has also carved out a second career as a Manager at the Dubai Economic Development Corporation, part of the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). “My focus is on economic development, particularly around education and talent,” he says. “It’s a very different field, but the goal is similar – to create ecosystems that empower people to succeed.”
Balancing both roles, he admits, requires discipline. “My days are spent at the department, and my evenings are for Gravity. I’ve built a great team I can trust to manage day-to-day operations, but I still meet with them regularly,” he notes. “It’s about structure and communication – the same principles that make good design work.”
For Yousuf, the Emirate’s ecosystem of passionate communities mirrors what he has built at Gravity. “Dubai is a city of micro-communities,” he says. “Whether your interest is art, fitness, or innovation, you’ll find your people here. That sense of belonging is what makes the city special.”
Looking ahead, Yousuf’s focus is on scaling the brand beyond the UAE. “We want to take Gravity from a local name to an international movement,” he reveals. “We’re developing a franchise model so people around the world can replicate what we’ve built here – the business, community, and culture.”
For those hoping to follow in his footsteps, his advice is simple. “Leap into the unknown. You’ll never know what’s possible until you try,” he shares. “But stay open to feedback. Don’t cling to your assumptions. The path won’t be easy, but growth never is.”
From designing buildings to building communities, from mountaintops to muscle-ups, Yousuf Al Gurg has lived by the belief that if you build something with heart…they will come.
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