51,000 Join Fitness Challenge

For serious cyclists, the sessions might seem too brief and easy—they won’t make you a racing champion.

However, for those facing time constraints and aiming to maintain health, watching progress is motivating, and the science supporting the sessions is convincing.

Recognizing the essential role health and well-being play in maintaining a productive and joyful workforce, the Emirates Group has actively supported the Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC) since its inception, motivating employees to integrate fitness into their lifestyles.

This enthusiasm is renewed annually, with more than 51,000 Emirates Group employees in the UAE having taken part in the fitness festival since 2017, collectively accumulating millions of minutes of exercise and calories burned, alongside attending numerous fitness classes.

With the Dubai Fitness Challenge set to begin in just four days, the Emirates Group is once again urging its workforce to join in, committing to 30 minutes of daily exercise for 30 days, known as 30X30. Participants who complete the challenge stand to earn a free flight ticket to any destination on the Emirates network.

Employees based in Dubai can kick off this wellness campaign by taking advantage of various free classes throughout the city, engaging in sports events and group workout sessions, participating in large community sporting events like Dubai Run and Dubai Ride, or simply continuing with their preferred fitness activities as they work towards personal health goals.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, stated, “The Emirates Group has continually supported the Dubai Fitness Challenge.

We've utilized our global teams and sponsorships to elevate the event’s visibility, organized friendly competitions to showcase team spirit, and created a diverse array of fitness events fully run by our teams, contributing to Dubai's ambition to become one of the world's most active cities.”

He further remarked, “We prioritize the health of our workforce as an essential investment.

We conduct comprehensive wellness programs, support employee sports clubs, and promote health-aligned policies, which foster a healthy culture, enhance our brand’s distinctiveness, and bolster our recruitment and retention efforts, laying the groundwork for a more robust business.”

The Emirates Group’s ‘Sehaty’ program, meaning ‘my health’ in Arabic, conducts year-round physical and mental health awareness initiatives, preventive screenings, and wellness roadshows and webinars.

Various teams, including Emirates Group Medical Services, Clinical Psychology, the Employee Assistance Programme, Peer Support, Group Safety, and Human Resources, lead these Sehaty initiatives.

The Medical Services team often breaks down complex health concepts into actionable insights for employees to incorporate into both work and personal life.

Additionally, there are over 30 sports and hobby clubs run by Emirates Group employees throughout the year, featuring activities like football, volleyball, basketball, badminton, cricket, cycling, rugby, snowboarding, scuba diving, and skydiving.

Understanding their cultural significance, Emirates offers paid leave, travel support, and funding to employees representing UAE national teams or the organization in major sporting events, including inter-airline tournaments.

During the DFC, employee fitness specialists offer free classes at the Group’s facilities, and teams can benefit from special discounts at participating Dubai-based gyms.

Throughout the month and beyond, employees receive regular advice on health, nutrition, fitness, and mental well-being.

With its extensive sports sponsorship background, Emirates offers employees unique, priceless experiences, such as the women’s basketball team practicing with NBA legend Isiah Thomas during a partnership announcement; the cycling team racing against world champion UAE Team Emirates at the start of the 2018 DFC; a sailing club member switching roles with Sir Ben Ainslie, Olympic sailor and Driver of Emirates GBR SailGP Team; and nine cricket teams playing a mini-match on the DXB tarmac with Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan to launch the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2021.

The Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC) is scheduled from October 26 to November 24, 2024.

Source: breakingtravelnews

The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.