Dubai Fitness Challenge is one of the most anticipated city-wide events of the year. Why wouldn’t it be when it offers 30 days of free fitness activities, events, and entertainment? So, tie in your shoelaces, download the Dubai Fitness Challenge app, and prepare your 30×30 workout plan. Here’s everything you need to know about Dubai Fitness Challenge 2021.
What is the Dubai Fitness Challenge?
Dubai Fitness Challenge is a city-wide event celebrating fitness and wellness. The program was first launched in 2017 by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai. Since then, the city has been hosting the event annually.
This year, 2021, the Dubai Fitness Challenge will run from October 30 to November 28, featuring a 30-day calendar with free workout programs, fitness events, live entertainment, and more. The challenge is to complete 30 minutes of fitness activity for 30 days and treat the entire city as a whole gym.
Who Can Join the Dubai Fitness Challenge?
Dubai Fitness Challenge is open to anyone in the city: locals, tourists, and expats—typically anyone who can move their body. It welcomes fitness enthusiasts of any age. The local government even encourages parents and guardians to keep their children active, especially during the 30-day period of the Dubai Fitness Challenge. There are special resources available online and at the designated sites in the city containing activity-packed calendars, downloadable games, workout videos, and activity templates for children.
Apart from children, Dubai Fitness Challenge also welcomes people of determination, as long as they can move parts of their body or have recommendations from doctors and other health professionals. The event will launch a program called Sessions for People with Disabilities, where participants can join from the comfort of their own home—in comfortable clothing and with enough space.
How to Join the Dubai Fitness Challenge?
To join, you can register at https://www.dubaifitnesschallenge.com/register, download the upcoming Dubai Fitness Challenge app for 2021, and visit the various fitness hubs across the city.
Does Dubai Fitness Challenge Require Experience?
The city-wide event offers free workout programs, fitness events, and live entertainment to fitness enthusiasts of any level. You don’t need to have an experience to join the 30-day event. Still, it’s advisable to choose the best workout program or fitness event that matches your fitness level, abilities, and health condition.
Is the Dubai Fitness Challenge Safe?
The Dubai Fitness Challenge is hosted and regulated by the local government and other related partners. The Dubai Tourism and Dubai Sports Council will organize the event and its programs with the help of the Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Knowledge, Dubai Police, and the Ministry of Education, among others. Aside from government agencies, commercial businesses will also participate in the event to ensure the smooth running of all laid-out programs and activities. Among the presenting partners are Fitbit, FIFA, Emirates NBD, Mai Dubai, DP World, Kite Beach, and IMG World of Adventures.
All the responsible government institutions and commercial partners will ensure the safety and security of all participants involved in the event. As it’s a city-wide event, security and medical forces will be deployed on public sites.
COVID-19 Restrictions
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Dubai took all measures to protect its citizens against the virus while keeping them healthy and active through events like the Dubai Fitness Challenge. The 2020 edition pushed through, with most of the activities held online and at home. The same COVID-19 protocols will be applied to the 2021 edition but with more relaxed rules for participants who want to do outdoor activities.
The local police and health authorities will ensure social distancing among participants, sanitize equipment, conduct temperature checks for staff and participants, and promote contactless interactions.
Participants, too, are required to follow individual safety protocols. Participants should wear face masks outdoors, avoid physical contact among other participants, and submit basic personal information for contact tracing purposes.
All these COVID-19 protocols are still subject to change daily, weekly, or monthly. The local and the national government could release amended safety protocols in the future as the pandemic progresses and new solutions arise.
When Is The Best Time To Participate?
The main sites and fitness hubs for the Dubai Fitness Challenge are open to visitors and participants every day. The operating hours usually fall between 4:00 pm to 11:00 PM from Saturday to Wednesday and 4:00 PM to 12:00 midnight from Thursday to Friday.
The Dubai Fitness Program will release an early and daily schedule for each fitness event, workout session, and live entertainment through its official website or the Dubai Fitness Challenge app. There will be video workouts and fitness activities at landmark events, so participants can choose to participate in the comfort of their own home or join the crowd outside.
Given the number of programs available, there’s no best time to participate in the challenge. You can follow video workouts at home at your most convenient time or pick the best outdoor program and event you wish to join.
How Long Should You Participate in Dubai Fitness Challenge?
The ideal duration is 30 minutes of physical activity every day for 30 days. This range can already complete health experts’ recommended 2 hours to 2 hours and 30 minutes moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week. But if you have more refined fitness goals, you can choose to increase this duration based on your age and fitness level.
Where Are the Fitness Hubs and Outdoor Sites Located?
The Dubai Fitness Challenge aims to hold 200 virtual classes and 2,000 physical classes and sessions in 150 locations. The event, after all, will treat the city as a whole gym. To plan your schedule, here are some of the most popular and accessible locations and fitness hubs for this year’s event:
Al Barsha South Park
Palm Jumeirah
Jumeirah Lakes Towers Park
Al Khawaneej
Al Seef
Jumeirah
Burj Plaza, Downtown Dubai
Dubai Water Canal
Al Jadaf
Bluewaters
Palm Jumeirah
Al Barsha Pond Park
Dubai Marina
Al Qouz
The Lakes
Al Khail Gate Park
Business Bay
Jumeirah & JBR
Nad Al Sheba Park
Skydive Dubai
Uptown Mirdif Park
Dubai Water Canal
Arabian Ranches
Nad Al Hamar Park
Al Marasi
La Mer
Dubai Festival City
For the complete list of locations and fitness hubs for 2021, head to this page. The Dubai Fitness Challenge will designate the final list of trainers, couches, and gyms to all of these locations weeks before the event.
How to Reach The Designated Locations and Fitness Hubs
Local and foreign participants, as well as casual visitors, can navigate the city and reach their preferred fitness hubs and locations through private and public transportation. The available private transportation are personal or rented vehicles. Meanwhile, the primary forms of public transportation in Dubai are taxis, buses, water taxis or abras, and the Dubai Metro.
What are the Things Participants Need to Prepare?
Whether you choose to participate at home or the designated fitness hubs, you have a couple of things to prepare to reach your fitness goals and make your workout sessions as comfortable as possible. Here are some reminders and recommendations:
Clothing
Choose the right workout clothes for the fitness activities you want to complete. It’s best to plan ahead since the challenge will last for 30 days. You need proper fitness clothing for each day you’ll participate.
Aim to pack and prepare clothing made of polypropylene, polyester, nylon, spandex, Merino wool, or bamboo—these are fabrics that can expedite the sweat evaporation process without compromising your comfort and increasing your body temperature. If possible, avoid cotton clothing as they absorb sweat but won’t aid in the evaporation process.
Food and Drinks
Some fitness hubs under the Dubai Fitness Challenge may offer food and beverages to attending participants, but this doesn’t apply to all activities around the city. Whether you choose to participate at home or your preferred location, prepare food and drinks that can satisfy a healthy balanced diet. Prepare or bring healthy snacks and hydration drinks, such as water and sports drinks.
Equipment
The fitness hubs will provide you with the necessary equipment for a specific workout activity, depending on the program. But if you’re participating at home, join activities where you can use your available equipment.
Health Requirements
When joining outdoor activities, make sure to bring your vaccination card or COVID-19 PCR test, as well as necessary protective equipment and safety essentials, such as face masks, face shields, and rubbing alcohol or sanitizers.
What’s in Dubai Fitness Challenge 2021?
Dubai Fitness Challenge comes with various fitness-related programs, activities, and entertainment for everyone. You’ll never run out of choices to choose from. In fact, your fitness options are overflowing. Find your 30-minute fitness challenge for 30 days under the following categories:
Sports
Dubai Fitness Challenge hosts competitive and mass-participation events with the help of its partner fitness hubs and sports organizations. You can join indoor and outdoor sports events like rock climbing, paddle boarding, and running tours. At home, you can find inspiration, tutorials, and workout videos on the event’s official page for the sports category.
HIIT
If your fitness goals require High-Intensity Interval Training or HIIT, Dubai Fitness Challenge also got you covered. Fitness locations like DP World Fitness Village Kite Beach, Gate Avenue Fitness Hub, and Dubai Outlet Mall Fitness Hub offer HIIT workouts. For more resources and materials concerning HIIT, find tips, tutorials, and workout videos on the event’s official page for the HIIT category.
Weights and Bodyweights
To improve your full-body strength, Dubai Fitness Challenge also provides free workouts with free use of the equipment at some of its fitness hubs. If you wish to participate at home with your own equipment, you can look for workout videos and articles on the event’s official page for the weights and bodyweights category.
Low-Intensity Workouts
If this is your first time joining the Dubai Fitness Challenge or you just started your fitness journey, you can join low-intensity workouts at public sites like Al Barsha Pond Park, La Mer, Dubai Festival City, Nad Al Hamar Park, and Uptown Mirdif Park. If you wish to participate at home, you can access workout articles and workout videos on the event’s official page for low-intensity workouts.
Kids
Kids, assisted by parents and guardians, can also join the 30-minute, 30-day challenge. Dubai Fitness Challenge organizes nearly a hundred activities for children between the ages of 2 and 16 years. They can participate in dance classes, Zumba sessions, sports events, and even boxing sessions. If you wish to join with kids at home, you can access tutorials and workout videos on the event’s official page for kids events and fitness education.
Yoga and Meditation
Various partner organizations and fitness hubs also host free daily yoga and meditation sessions throughout the 30-day calendar of the Dubai Fitness Challenge for relaxation. The best sessions are located at Dubai Marina, JLT Park, Dubai Festival Mall, and the Hatta Wadi Hub.
How to Get the Dubai Fitness Challenge App?
The link and QR code for the Dubai Fitness Challenge app will be spread out throughout the city by the organizers. The app functions as a portable tracker, scheduler, and news platform. You can also get exclusive updates, deals, and discounts from fitness merchants through the app.
Aside from the universal Dubai Fitness Challenge app, you can also download other fitness applications run by partner brands: Fitbit Premium, Neou, Daily Burn, Les Mills, Fiit, SworkIt, Steppi, and Sweat.
Final Tips for First-Time Participants of Dubai Fitness Challenge
The Dubai Fitness Challenge is a free, city-wide event for everyone, regardless of age, nationality, and fitness level. You can get your fitness fix for free and with various options, so our tip is to maximize and diversify your fitness activities and visit as many fitness hubs as you can.
What to do After Joining Dubai Fitness Challenge
The 30-day Dubai Fitness Challenge isn’t the only city-wide event you should look out for annually. There are various mass-participation sports events and activities organized by different companies and organizations, such as the Dubai Watersports Festival, Dubai Women’s Running Challenge, and the Desert Warrior Challenge. During your downtime, you can also try other physical activities in the city, such as hiking, skiing, and ziplining.
