Nakheel Chairman leads 450 staff on Palm Jumeirah walk for Dubai Fitness Challenge

Nakheel Chairman Ali Rashid Lootah kicked off the company’s programme of events for Dubai Fitness Challenge by leading hundreds of employees on a 6km walk on Palm Jumeirah this morning.

Some 450 staff and their families turned out for the event, with the winner completing the walk in just over 36 minutes.

Nakheel is backing the Dubai Fitness Challenge as part of its commitment to encouraging sports and fitness among community residents and employees. This morning’s walk took place in Al Ittihad Park, Nakheel’s 1.1 million sq foot garden at the heart of its flagship Palm Jumeirah community.

“The Dubai Fitness Challenge is inspiring the entire city to get fit, and Nakheel is proud to support the event with a host of activities across our communities and retail destinations. What better way to highlight our participation than by bringing together our staff and their families to walk their way to improved health and fitness?” said Nakheel Chairman Ali Rashid Lootah.

 The walk covered two laps of Al Ittihad Park’s perimeter jogging track. While all employees, regardless of their fitness levels, were encouraged to join, awards were handed out to the three participants who crossed the finishing line first: Rashed Al Khateri, Deputy Director, Customer Service; Meharoofghan Mohamed Ali, Office Assistant; and Fathi Ali, Customer Service Supervisor.

 Chairman Lootah continued:  “Health, wellbeing and fitness are integral to Nakheel’s strategy and psyche, and I am delighted that so many staff joined in today.  As someone who personally follows a strict daily exercise routine, I am proud to encourage my teams to ‘think fit’ during the Dubai Fitness Challenge – and beyond.

The Dubai Fitness Challenge is encouraging everybody in the emirate to take 30 minutes of daily physical activity throughout the 30 day event, and to make a long-term lifestyle change so that sports and fitness become part of their everyday routine. 

Nakheel is backing the initiative with outdoor pop-up fitness centres at Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Islands, The Gardens, Jumeirah Village Triangle and Ibn Battuta Mall, with additional activities at Golden Mile Galleria on The Palm, including a specially-created workout session with the world’s most influential fitness celebrity, Kayla Itsines.

The company is also offering 30 per cent discount for day guests using the gyms and pools at Jebel Ali Club, Jumeirah Islands Club, Masakin Al Furjan Club and Azure Beach Club on week days throughout the Dubai Fitness Challenge.

Nakheel communities across Dubai have parks, jogging tracks and sports courts, with a huge network of cycle tracks on the way. The company hosts and sponsors international sporting events such as the Dubai Tour, is sponsoring the Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club this season, and supports dozens of local land and water sports events every year.