The recipe for a wash board six pack isn’t all that complicated.

You just need a great Abs workout routine, a nutrient-rich diet and a will to go against the late-night pizza cravings.

Almost every person who is involved in fitness and bodybuilding in Dubai and Abu Dhabi dreams of having six pack abs.

Not only are they very appealing to the eye (they represent the perfect physique), they also play a huge role when it comes to strength exercises. Every heavy compound exercise/movement requires core strength. And core strength comes from the abs.

Ab Exercise Type 1 – Plank

The plank is one of the easiest and most basic exercises you can do to tone your abs. This is an exercise that you can’t find an excuse not to do.

It requires no equipment and minimal time spent doing it. The plank is an isometric hold that really focuses on the core. It targets all areas of the abs (lower, upper, middle).

It’s very easy to manipulate the degree of difficulty of this exercise. If a regular plank is too easy for you, lift an arm, or a leg—or an arm and a leg. Still too easy?

Try enduring more in time! The more you up the difficulty of the exercises the more development of the abs you’ll get.

How To Do Plank

Simply put your hands shoulder width in the position that you do crunches. Ground your toes into the floor and squeeze the glutes to stabilize the body. Neutralize the neck and spine by looking at a spot on the floor about a foot beyond the hands.

Ab Exercise Type 2 – Mountain Climbers

You see them in all gyms in the UAE – Mountain Climbers are an awesome exercise that gets you heart rate up fast while also firing the core and other muscle groups in the body- deltoids, chest, quads, hamstrings and hip abductors.

This is the perfect exercise in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for burning fat because of the high heart rate (the best fat loss results are achieved while the heart operates at 130bpm) therefore burning of calories and for building a strong core.

This is an exercise that also doesn’t require any equipment and special skills.

How To Do Mountain Climbers:

From a high plank position, with your body straight and hips level, lift right foot and draw right knee to chest between your hands. As you return right leg to plank, lift left foot and draw left knee to chest between your hands.

Continue to alternate as quickly as possible, keeping your core tight and without hiking your hips.

Ab Exercise Type 3 – Straight Leg Raises

This is another exercise that you can do with no equipment in the UAE, you just need a floor to lie on. Although it targets your whole core it’s a good exercise for your lower abs also.

If you have any lower back pain don’t do this movement.

How To Do Straight Leg Raises:

From a face up position on the floor, place hands under your low back and brace your core.

Lift straight legs slowly off the ground, bringing them to 90-degrees, then slowly lower them back to the ground.

Ab Exercise Type 4 – Kneeling Cable Crunch

This exercise requires a cable machine – your gym or personal trainer in Dubai can provide information on accessing cable machines in your area. The primary strengths of this crunch variation exercise are its versatility—you can do it on any cable stack—and the way it allows you to use any level of resistance to train for a target rep range. This exercise targets your upper and middle area of the abdominals.

How to do a Kneeling Cable Crunch:

To perform a kneeling cable crunch you can begin by kneeling and facing towards or away from the pulley. The aim is to maintain tension and not rest at either end. Bend at your hips and avoid extending your legs. Your knees shouldn’t come into the movement as you may be tempted to propel yourself with your legs when you begin to fatigue. Your head shouldn’t touch the floor and the weights should not touch when you come to straighten again.

Ab Exercise Type 5 – Hanging Leg Raise Or Knee Raise

To do a Hanging leg/knee raise you just need a bar that you can hang from. The goal of the exercise is to contract your abdominals as much as possible without involving the quads too much.

This exercise targets the lower abs and also a bit of the quads. It requires balance and constant tension.

How to do Hanging Leg Raise Or Knee Raise:

Hang from a pull-up bar with an overhand grip and your hands roughly shoulder-width apart. Flex your hips and bend your knees, holding them above your hips in front of your torso. In a controlled fashion, roll your torso upwards, bringing your knees toward your chin. Slowly reverse this motion without allowing your knees to become un-tucked from your body. Don’t use momentum at any point.

Ab Exercise Type 6 – Squat

Wait what? A leg exercise for ab development? Yes! Everyone who has done heavy squats knows how much they destroy your core. Both front and back squats force your abs and spinal erectors to work overtime to maintain a neutral, upright position.

How To Do Squats:

Stand straight with feet hip-width apart, tighten your stomach muscles, lower down, as if sitting.