ABU DHABI // Fitness fanatics, health enthusiasts and those just looking to become more active were among the thousands who worked up a sweat at Zayed Sports City on Friday.
Break-dancing, rock climbing, boxing, tennis, circuit training and body attack were among the events on the third day of Abu Dhabi Alive, aimed at fighting flab and encouraging a more energetic lifestyle.
The event also invites visitors to try a range of physical activities to find those they enjoy most and to pick up health advice.
In the fitness area, music pumped from the speakers as stay-fit enthusiasts joined in for a range of classes including body combat, body jam and Zumba.
“Group exercise is a great way of getting fit while having fun,” said Liz Duco, the head of group exercise at Gold’s Gym in Al Wahda Mall, who was one of the trainers working the crowd.
“Classes like these help improve fitness and strengthen muscles and bones.”
David Crocker, a personal trainer at Original Fitness, also helped to get the blood pumping.
Mr Crocker, 27, an Australian, led a series of high-intensity workouts designed to get the optimum results for short bursts of exercise.
They included obstacle courses, planking and a challenge where competitors had two minutes to do the most burpees, which are a combination of squats, push-ups and vertical jumps.
“We are here to promote health and fitness,” said Mr Crocker. “Exercise improves the quality of life and allows you to live healthier for longer. Eat healthy and keep active.”
Fasih Uddin, 15, of Al Alamana school in Sharjah, travelled to Abu Dhabi on Friday as part of a class trip to Abu Dhabi Alive.
“I have tried the basketball and pool. Pool was definitely my favourite,” said the Pakistani schoolboy.
Fasih was joined by his Egyptian classmate Mohammed Kishk.
“I did a lot,” said Mohammed, 15. “I have played billiards, pool and basketball and I am really excited about playing in a football match later on. It is definitely my favourite sport.
“Exercise is good. It keeps you fit and healthy.”
Their teacher, Rasheed Ali, 29, also challenged his balancing skills on the tightrope.
“It has been a good day,” Mr Ali said. “The students are having a great time.”
Maei Jeneidi, 33, took her daughters Sama, 8, and Masa, 4, to try a host of activities including tightrope walking, throwing rings and tennis.
“Fitness and health is important,” said Ms Jeneidi, a Jordanian who had a facial and visited a dietician at the event.
“We currently eat a lot of junk food and salt and we want to change that. Maybe by coming here we will make it our New Year’s resolution.”
Eurmeet Singh, 40, an Indian employee of Aldar Properties, attended the event with his wife, who tried rock climbing.
“It is very important to do exercise,” Mr Singh said. “It goes a long way to keeping you healthy.”
Visitors to Abu Dhabi Alive, of which The National is a sponsor, could also take part in cooking demonstrations.
Organisers have said the overwhelming response to the inaugural event leaves little room for doubt that Abu Dhabi Alive will return next year.
“We will definitely make it happen,” said Hayete Jemai, the exhibition director. “It has been a really fantastic response. Better than even expected. The exhibitors are really happy.”
Ms Jemai said about 4,500 people attended the opening day on Wednesday while, on Thursday, families made the most of a spontaneous public holiday, on the back of Dubai’s Expo 2020 win.
She said the range of activities, which also included a ladies-only fitness tent, quizzes, giveaways and free entry and car parking, proved a winning formula.
Ms Jemai said event organisers were also planning to launch Al Ain Alive in autumn next year.
“Daman, our principle sponsor, are really concerned about getting everyone in the community healthy,” she said.
“I think there is a real need for people to have an event like this where you can learn about healthy lifestyles in a fun way.”
Saturday is the last day of Abu Dhabi Alive, which is open between 11am and 8pm. The event is free to enter but costs Dh5 if people wish to take part.
jbell@thenational.ae
TICKETS
For tickets for the two-day Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) event, entitled Dubai Invasion 2019, on September 27 and 28 go to www.meraticket.com.
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
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.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Profile Periscope Media
Founder: Smeetha Ghosh, one co-founder (anonymous)
Launch year: 2020
Employees: four – plans to add another 10 by July 2021
Financing stage: $250,000 bootstrap funding, approaching VC firms this year
Investors: Co-founders
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
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
HOW%20TO%20ACTIVATE%20THE%20GEMINI%20SHORTCUT%20ON%20CHROME%20CANARY
%3Cp%3E1.%20Go%20to%20%3Cstrong%3Echrome%3A%2F%2Fflags%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E2.%20Find%20and%20enable%20%3Cstrong%3EExpansion%20pack%20for%20the%20Site%20Search%20starter%20pack%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E3.%20Restart%20Chrome%20Canary%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E4.%20Go%20to%20%3Cstrong%3Echrome%3A%2F%2Fsettings%2FsearchEngines%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20in%20the%20address%20bar%20and%20find%20the%20%3Cstrong%3EChat%20with%20Gemini%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20shortcut%20under%20%3Cstrong%3ESite%20Search%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E5.%20Open%20a%20new%20tab%20and%20type%20%40%20to%20see%20the%20Chat%20with%20Gemini%20shortcut%20along%20with%20other%20Omnibox%20shortcuts%20to%20search%20tabs%2C%20history%20and%20bookmarks%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
Company profile
Company: Eighty6
Date started: October 2021
Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Hospitality
Size: 25 employees
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investment: $1 million
Investors: Seed funding, angel investors
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
The biog
From: Ras Al Khaimah
Age: 50
Profession: Electronic engineer, worked with Etisalat for the past 20 years
Hobbies: 'Anything that involves exploration, hunting, fishing, mountaineering, the sea, hiking, scuba diving, and adventure sports'
Favourite quote: 'Life is so simple, enjoy it'
Match info:
Wolves 1
Boly (57')
Manchester City 1
Laporte (69')
