Over 30,000 employees join challenge
dubai — With three major government departments publicly accepting to take on the Dubai Fitness Challenge, it has added more than 30,000 Dubai employees to the initiative’s rapidly growing participation count.
Since the announcement of the 30-day fitness initiative last week, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council has taken to Twitter to invite the Dubai Police, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) to sign up for the challenge.
With all, so far, gracefully accepting the invite to take on 30 minutes of exercise for 30 days, Khaleej Times has been finding out how exactly each department will be taking the fitness movement forward.
Lead the way
Dr Yousuf Ebrahim Al Akraf, executive vice-president for business support and human resources division at Dewa, said the role department leaders play is what will help make the challenge a success. “You can’t simply sit in your chair and order your employees to get fit. You have to get active yourself.”
With “no one in the department exempt from this invite”, Al Akraf said he will be personally taking on the challenge, wholeheartedly. “As leaders, we have to realise that all eyes will be on us, that means getting up and leading by example.”
In total, 12,000 employees at Dewa will be taking part. But Al Akraf said the participation numbers won’t stop there. “We’re encouraging our staff to involve family members too, so numbers will multiply. As partners of the initiative (along with Dubai Tourism), our role is to provide full support by running activities, and making trainers available to our staff.”
With three gyms already located throughout the Dewa offices, what they will be doing for this challenge is introducing “more social activities” for staff and families.
“We do, and will continue to take our staff to fitness sessions like the Safa Park, Kite Beach and other outdoor places, for exercise.”
And this year already, 2,000 staff — including Al Akraf himself – have taken on fitness challenges including the Emirates Towers SkyRun. “I ran it in 22 minutes and I think if your employees see you taking part, that will encourage them.”
From swimming to yoga, and morning office exercise, Al-Akraf said they will be hosting an array of in-house activities for the 30 days.
Sports for health
Over at Dubai Police, Commanderin-Chief of Dubai Police MajorGeneral Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri told Khaleej Times this challenge just “reinforces how important sports is to supporting good health”. And it’s an initiative which will see “many officers and their families” (from its 15,000-strong workforce) being encouraged to take part.
“The government directives are a priority for us, so we will have sports
This challenge reinforces how important sports is to supporting good health and will see many officers and their families take part.”
Maj.-Gen. Abdullah Al Marri, commander-in-chief, Dubai Police
initiatives for all police personnel, men and women, and their families, as well as the General Command, through the Department of Public Administration and police stations.”
In response to Sunday’s Twitter invite to RTA, Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the
As leaders, we have to realise that all eyes will be on us, that means getting up and leading by example.”
Dr Yousuf Al-Akraf, executive vice-president, business support and human resources, Dewa
board of executive directors of the authority, said the department is “honoured to accept Dubai’s fitness challenge”, adding another 6,300 participants to the challenge. Though as yet, it has not shared its plan for in-house fitness schemes.
kelly@khaleejtimes.com