Dubai shows the way to a fit society

A toothache or a headache is all it takes to ruin the peace of a man or a woman who may even have millions of dollars in the bank. That sums up the extraordinary value of health. A fit individual is a joyful individual and so is a fit society a happy society.

Worldwide, sedentary jobs are making more and more people less active, posing dire health consequences.

Insufficient physical activity is also a leading risk factor for non-communicable disease, negatively impacting mental health and overall quality of life.

It is in this background that Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, deserves a salute of gratitude for leading from the front and launching a challenge to all residents and visitors to join the upcoming Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC) – the flagship fitness movement he launched in 2017.

Thirty minutes every day for 30 days is not asking for too much and that’s what precisely the challenge asks from the participants.

When DFC, the world’s only citywide fitness movement, returns for its third consecutive edition from Oct.18 to Nov.16, 2019, it is expected to transform the whole city into a gym, so every individual regardless of age, ability or fitness level has the opportunity to complete their 30 minutes of physical activity for the 30 days.

The benefits for the participants will be immense.

DFC will feature two dedicated Fitness Villages, ten Community Hubs, more than 40 events and over 5,000 classes and activities taking place through the month.

The action-packed calendar will bring the city to life featuring flagship programmes of fitness gurus and iconic brands.

Notable amongst these is an attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest high-intensity interval training (HIIT) class on Oct.26 with “The Body Coach,” best-selling author and Instagram fitness star Joe Wicks.

It cannot be denied, though, that awareness about fitness has grown among the community. Dubai’s residents and visitors have demonstrated a joint social commitment to embracing a happier and more active lifestyle through their overwhelming participation since the inception of DFC.

Sheikh Hamdan founded DFC on 3 key principles: (a) inclusivity (b) accessibility and (c) sustainability – with a view to ensure that people from every walk of life regardless of age or ability, are able to make fitness an integral and enjoyable part of their lives.

As pointed out by Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism): “The Dubai Fitness Challenge has helped cement Dubai’s position as a global city that prioritises health and fitness. Fundamentally the fitness movement aims to make Dubai the “Most Active City” as well in the world – and with each edition, DFC has been taking us further along this journey.”

It’s anytime better to sweat it out with fitness activities than to shed tears with avoidable ailments.

The choice of 30 days for the programme has a special significance too. Studies have shown that it takes approximately 30 days to make a significant change in a person’s health and wellbeing. That’s why the DFC encourages every person to change and enhance his/her lifestyle with 30 days of activity.

The beauty of it all is that the event not only cultivates fitness-focused mindsets but also inspires Dubai’s residents to work towards a common goal of maintaining healthier, active lifestyles in the long run.