DUBAI 3 October 2019: Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC) is set to launch edition 3 on 18 October for 30 consecutive days until 16 November 2019, inviting all residents and visitors to commit together as a city to an active lifestyle.
Featuring global brand icons including Nike, Lululemon and Under Armour, the city’s partners and fitness industry come together to deliver an unprecedented range of activities for the month
Fitness Challenge (DFC) – the world’s only citywide fitness movement – was launched in 2017 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.
Amplifying this spirit even further, the 2019 DFC will 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.
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 October 26 with “The Body Coach”, best-selling author and Instagram fitness star Joe Wicks.
Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), said: “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.”
DFC was founded on 3 key principles:
- inclusivity;
- accessibility; and
- sustainability
DFC 2019 will launch “Find Your 30” virtual content hub – a one-stop destination to a wide range of fitness content for all ages and abilities where anyone can craft their individualised fitness programme. The hub will serve as free-to-access fitness inspiration on the DFC website, and will link to details on DFC events and sessions to ensure seamless technological integration for participants to navigate their personal fitness journeys both during DFC and beyond.
The hub will feature “City is a Gym”, a virtual map of Dubai spanning 30 different locations across the city where individuals and groups can work out for free without any equipment. Upon arrival at each location, participants can scan a QR code with their mobile device, and an easy-to-follow workout unique to that place will appear for them to complete their 30 minutes of exercise.
Fitness Villages
To truly make fitness part of daily life, convenience and proximity are key and this year DFC spreads its physical footprint wider to offer key residential areas easy access with 10 Community Hubs that will complement the two larger-scale flagship 30 day Fitness Villages, located at Festival City Mall and Kite Beach. The Fitness Villages have been designed to inspire people from diverse interests and abilities to put in their daily 30 minutes of fitness opening on the first day of DFC, 18 October.
Kite Beach Fitness Village, in association with Etisalat and Meraas, will offer a variety of outdoor activities across multiple zones, each created to provide a unique fitness experience set against the picturesque Arabian Sea. With extended opening hours for the 30 days from 7am to 9pm from Sunday to Wednesday and 7am to 11pm from Thursday to Saturday, the zones include beachside basketball, boxing and martial arts, yoga and meditation, and a dedicated kids’ play area, in addition to a water sports centre with equipment and trainers for stand-up paddle-boarding, canoeing and kayaking amongst other aquatic fitness activities including an aqua obstacle course. The Village will also include a specially designed Tough Mudder ‘Get Tougher’ training obstacle course with an array of fun, muddy and dynamic obstacles to try out, as well as a Mini Mudder course for kids.
Festival City Mall Fitness Village, in association with Fitbit and Al-Futtaim, is set to span both indoor and outdoor sections of the mall, and will be open to visitors from 12pm to 10pm from Sunday to Wednesday and 12pm to 12am from Thursday to Saturday throughout the DFC period. The Festival Square of the mall’s ground floor will be transformed into a “fitness zone” with a mix of skill and fitness-based activities and challenges geared towards people of all ages – including Robo-Keeper for football enthusiasts and a Jump Station. The Dubai Festival City promenade will turn into a large workout space with afternoon programming, including a brand-new ‘IMAGINE’ fitness-themed show playing twice every evening. Participants can also rent a bike upon free registration and set off on the ‘ultimate mile’ along the promenade with a series of workout exercises on the way to Marsa Beach, where a range of beach sport activities can be found.
With the formation of ten Community Hubs this year, DFC is making strides to spark the active spirit within different communities across the city, and to enhance accessibility to a variety of workout locations including Hamdan Sports Complex, Zabeel Ladies Club, The Pointe on Palm Jumeirah, The Sustainable City, JLT Park and Bluewaters – with more to be announced soon.
In a true reflection of a city ‘In It Together’, fitness venues and professionals across Dubai are set to offer over 5,000 free exercise classes during DFC 2019 to keep participants fully charged to achieve and smash their goals. Retailers across the city are also jumping on board this year, including global brands such as Nike, Fitbit, Lululemon and Under Armour, with hundreds of deals and offers ranging from sports equipment and apparel to customisable healthy meal plans for participants on offer. The city’s burgeoning health and wellness industry will also be actively involved this year with free check-ups, information sessions, classes and much more throughout the 30 days.
With less than 20 days to go, all residents and visitors to Dubai – regardless of age, ability and fitness capacity – are invited to pledge themselves to the Challenge and kick-start their personal commitment to fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Participants can register via the Dubai Fitness App or Dubai Fitness Challenge website, where they can access all the details on free citywide classes, create social fitness groups, track their daily progress and share their achievements on social media using the hashtag #Dubai30x30. More information is also available on the official DFC website www.dubaifitnesschallenge.com.
