A fitness suit, touted to be revolutionary, has arrived in the UAE and is promising to take away the pain and sweat out of working out your muscles for a leaner you.
Easy Motion Skin, a company headquartered in Austria, is behind the sales of the blue-coloured outfit which has been designed by German scientist Dr Dirk Fritzche and is expanding operations in the country after establishing good testimonials with top athletes and even astronauts in Germany.
Bringing the product is Jan Ising, who has helped set-up events at places like the Burj Khalifa and Expo2020. “It can help lose weight, firm your skin and help get rid of cellulite and all this without causing back pain while also improving any disbalances caused by wrong habits from daily life,” says Ising.
The concept is nothing new, the company admits. “We are only reinventing the old way of Electromyography (EMG) in which the brain sends a signal to the muscles,” Ising explains. “In the late 70s, experiments were conducted on frogs with electrodes attached to their leg muscles to see how long they could leap. Until recently too, body suits with complex wires and gadgets attached have been in use but the movement is severely restricted and impractical.”
“Our suit is powered by a small, long-lasting battery and made up of washable, comfortable material with humidity not a factor and the high-quality electrodes are placed to target eight different muscle categories – without troubling yourself or risking back pain and potentially more injuries and damage then the good done by working out.
“However, once you get used to it – even 20-minute sessions twice a week is enough – you need mobility to work your muscles on a professional level; for which one usually recommends a trainer.”
Billing the suit as “the world’s smallest gym”, the development team led by Mr Ising is so confident that they are encouraging people to see the proof in the pudding themselves by trying it out. The suit comes in a Home Edition for individual users and a Studio Edition for those looking to share it or rent it among a larger benefactor base.
“We are looking at direct marketing where they can buy the suit from us online or collect it from our partner gyms or personal trainers,” Ising adds. “It is a sustainable system where the suit is used in conjunction with the experts who believe in the system.”
To complement the suit, the company has also collaborated with other products which work on a similar EMG concept. There is the ReLounge chair, an arching table with electrodes placed on the back region. There is another massage table, a flat one, which has a slow and steady, but similar relaxation effect on the back muscles especially.
“Our products are where science meets lifestyle. We are activating your muscles, improving mobility and increasing endurance.
“We can provide follow-up support for clinics and physios for: sin tightening for mothers, muscle building after surgeries, compensation of disbalances in body muscles, optimize training results, an immediate solution for cellulite issues – all with the push of a button.”
Jan Ising, left, guiding Yolanda in Dubai. The electrodes, sewn into the suit to target key areas, are visible. Sanita Lapinska / EMS
Though the suit is a fitness and lifestyle product in the UAE for starters, it is registered with medical authorities in Europe.
Their headquarters in Seefel, Austria, also known as the Dome, is being used as a training facility for top athletes. The company is working with the European Space Agency, SpaceX, the Centre for Space, Medicine & Extreme Environments in Berlin and the word of mouth is growing.
Another brand ambassador is Kai Kazmirek, a German decathlete, who had swelled to 120kg in weight during a complex injury lay-off. After using the suit, his recovery has fastened and what would have taken a year took only three months, Ising claims.
The suit was presented to a select audience at the expansive AB Fitness facility in Port Rashid, Dubai. Yolanda Banda, a marketing executive by profession and a fitness freak, got curious and decided to don the blue kit. “I did it only for 10 minutes but I can still feel my muscles twitching. It is a great feeling,” she said.
The home edition is priced roughly around 12,500 dirhams and can be ordered online from their website.
Two of Dubai’s largest Catholic churches have resumed full operations, ending temporary restrictions introduced in April and allowing parishioners to return to normal church activities.
Here’s what has changed.
Which churches have reopened?
The following churches are now fully open from July 1:
St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Oud Metha
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Jebel Ali
Both churches confirmed they are resuming all parish activities following the latest directives from the authorities.
What restrictions have been lifted?
Parishioners can now:
Attend all Masses and services.
Participate in parish activities and community events.
Return to regular church life without the temporary attendance restrictions.
Why were restrictions introduced?
The measures, announced in April, were aimed at preventing overcrowding and included:
Suspension of outdoor church activities.
Weekend Masses limited to adults aged 18 and above.
Mandatory online registration.
No entry for children or unregistered visitors.
Livestreamed Masses for those unable to attend.
Are any guidelines still in place?
Yes. While churches have fully reopened, worshippers are encouraged to continue following any applicable guidelines and to be respectful and considerate of others during services.
What does this mean for parishioners?
The reopening restores normal parish life, allowing families and worshippers to once again take part in religious services, community events and other church activities without the temporary restrictions.
The UAE has introduced a visa-on-arrival facility for eligible Filipino passport holders, making it easier for many travellers to visit the country without applying for a visa in advance.
If you’re planning to travel to the UAE, here’s everything you need to know.
Who is eligible for visa on arrival?
Filipino passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival if they have a valid visa, residence permit or Green Card issued by any of the following:
United States
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
Japan
Singapore
South Korea
Any European Union (EU) member state
Travellers must ensure that their supporting visa, residence permit or Green Card is valid at the time of arrival in the UAE.
According to the DFA, the UAE introduced the new policy on June 25 in recognition of the strong and growing bilateral relationship between the two countries.
What visa options are available?
Eligible Filipino travellers can choose between two visa-on-arrival options:
14-day visa
Fee: Dh100
Valid for 14 days
Can be extended once for another 14 days for an additional fee of Dh250
60-day visa
Fee: Dh250
Valid for 60 days
Cannot be extended
Why has the UAE introduced this facility?
The new visa-on-arrival policy is expected to make travel easier for eligible Filipino tourists, business travellers and those visiting family and friends in the UAE.
It also reflects the close diplomatic ties between the UAE and the Philippines and is expected to encourage tourism, business activities and stronger people-to-people connections.
Does every Filipino passport holder qualify?
No. The visa-on-arrival facility is not available to all Filipino passport holders.
Only those who hold a valid visa, residence permit or Green Card from one of the eligible countries are covered under the new policy. Travellers who do not meet these requirements must continue to apply for a UAE visa through the standard application process before travelling.
What does this mean for travellers?
The new policy simplifies entry into the UAE for thousands of eligible Filipino travellers by reducing paperwork and offering more flexibility when planning trips. It is expected to benefit tourists, professionals and families while further strengthening travel and economic ties between the UAE and the Philippines.
Motorists in Sharjah will now need to pay for public parking until midnight following the implementation of new parking regulations that came into effect on July 1.
The updated policy, introduced by Sharjah City Municipality, standardises paid parking hours across the emirate, covering Sharjah city, Kalba, Khor Fakkan and Al Dhaid. Areas marked with yellow parking signs will now follow the same operating schedule as blue-sign parking zones.
Paid Parking from 8am to midnight
Under the revised system, paid public parking is available daily from 8am to midnight.
The municipality clarified that Fridays and official public holidays will continue to offer free parking, except for designated premium parking spaces that remain chargeable throughout the week, including holidays.
More than 124,000 paid parking spaces covered
The new regulations apply to approximately 124,000 paid public parking spaces across the emirate.
While operating hours have been extended, the municipality noted that parking fee structures may differ depending on the type of parking zone, particularly in smart parking areas and popular tourist destinations where separate pricing mechanisms are already in place.
Benefits for subscription holders
Sharjah City Municipality confirmed that the extended operating hours will not increase seasonal parking subscription fees.
Instead, subscribers will benefit from two additional hours of parking access each day, with the exemption period increasing from 14 hours to 16 hours, offering greater value without extra cost.
Why the parking timings were extended
According to the municipality, the decision was introduced to keep pace with Sharjah’s growing commercial activity and increasing demand for parking, especially during evening hours.
Many residents, restaurant visitors and café customers have experienced difficulty finding available parking after 10 PM. Extending paid parking hours is expected to improve space availability, discourage misuse of parking areas and ensure a smoother turnover of vehicles in busy commercial and residential districts.
Officials also said the move will help reduce illegal and random parking while improving traffic flow and providing better services for both residents and visitors.
Drivers urged to follow new rules
Authorities have encouraged motorists to comply with the updated parking schedule and pay parking fees through the available digital channels, including SMS and the Sharjah Digital mobile application.
Drivers are also advised to consider seasonal parking subscriptions, which offer a quick and convenient way to access public parking across the emirate.
The municipality believes the new unified parking system will improve parking management, enhance customer experience and support Sharjah’s continued urban and economic development.