Last week saw the finale of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, which was launched by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Dubai, and aimed to get people exercising for 30 minutes a day for 30 days. A staggering 786,000 people took part in some 1,500 events, which kicked off with a carnival in Safa Park and featured fitness experts and exercise classes.
The challenge could not have asked for a better ambassador. Sheikh Hamdan frequently posts pictures of himself scuba-diving, horse-riding and spear-fishing on his social media channels and puts his name to one of the toughest sporting challenges in the UAE, the Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup.
Records were broken and new records set. If ever there was an incentive to stay healthy, the challenge provided it. Indeed, several participants told The National that they hoped it would be repeated next year as an incentive to keep the momentum and awareness up. However, the key is not to wait another year for another challenge but to use this impetus to change old habits for good.
_______________
Read more
Dubai Fitness Challenge: Ronaldinho to back Sheikh Hamdan's call to get emirate active
Police drag Emirates A380 to set world record for Dubai Fitness Challenge
Watch: Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed and Dubai Police earn world record for mass exercise
_______________
As cooler weather sets in, so, too, does the resolve to head outdoors and get fit. But the trouble with good intentions is that they often fade as life’s daily nagging chores and obligations get the better of us.
As this paper has previously reported, tackling obesity and heart disease is an uphill battle in a country in which life can sometimes get a little too comfortable. According to the World Health Organisation, the UAE ranks third in the Middle East for obesity, with more than a third of residents classed as obese. In addition, a third of residents suffer from type two diabetes, which experts have said is avoidable through simple lifestyle changes, such as the ones advocated by this year's challenge.
With the ease of ordering food online and living a comfortable existence with almost everything accessible from our couches, it is imperative we constantly reassess our lifestyles, health, diet and exercise regimes and start practising good habits as a matter of course, not just when health is "in season". The lessons of the last 30 days have been invaluable, but the biggest lesson is that persistence and resolve don't have a time limit.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Company profile
Company name: Nestrom
Started: 2017
Co-founders: Yousef Wadi, Kanaan Manasrah and Shadi Shalabi
Based: Jordan
Sector: Technology
Initial investment: Close to $100,000
Investors: Propeller, 500 Startups, Wamda Capital, Agrimatico, Techstars and some angel investors
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
-
- Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
- Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
- Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
- Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
- Trying but failing to reduce phone use multiple times.
- Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
- Experiencing physical problems such as eye strain, neck pain, or thumb and wrist pain.
- Encountering friction with family and friends over the amount of time spent on the screen.
What are the guidelines?
- Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
-
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
-
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
-
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
-
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Europe's top EV producers
- Norway (63% of cars registered in 2021)
- Iceland (33%)
- Netherlands (20%)
- Sweden (19%)
- Austria (14%)
- Germany (14%)
- Denmark (13%)
- Switzerland (13%)
- United Kingdom (12%)
- Luxembourg (10%)
Source: VCOe
