Get Fit Abu Dhabi: take part in free workouts around the capital this month


Janice Rodrigues
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Get Fit Abu Dhabi launched this month, with classes and activities to suit all manner of fitness and health seekers in the capital. The free-to-attend initiative by Department of Community Development is held in collaboration with 10 malls in the main city, Al Ain and Al Dhafra – so residents can get a workout in between their daily shopping routine. The event is ongoing until November 30.

Here’s where you can go and what you need to know.

Al Ain Mall

There’s a range of activities to look forward to here, including Zumba, CrossFit and aerobics classes, and access to rowing and treadmill machines, with activities taking place on from 4pm to 9pm from Sundays to Wednesdays; and 5pm to 10pm from Thursdays to Saturdays. A consultation with a dietitian can be accessed on Friday, November 15, while there will be general health screenings on Saturday, November 16, between 5pm and 10pm.

Al Jimi Mall

Health enthusiasts who enjoy working out post sundown can participate in three spinning sessions taking place on Thursday and Friday, November 14 and 15 at 7pm, 9pm and 11pm; and another on Saturday, November 16 at 11pm.

Al Wahda Mall

Stop by for a fitness activity challenge and consultation, taking place every day from 6pm to 8pm until Thursday, November 28.

Bawadi Mall

Feeling stressed? Hop on over to Bawadi Mall, which will be having breath, meditation and yoga sessions every Friday morning until Saturday, November 30.

Dalma Mall

A host of activities is taking place on different days, including: Zumba on Thursday, November 14 at 8pm; Zumba for children on Saturday, November 16 at 5pm; body balance and Pilates on Sunday, November 17 at 11am; and a children's boot camp on Monday, November 25 at 4pm.

Khalidiyah Mall

Expect a buzz of activity as this mall is transformed into a bona fide fitness centre until November 30. There will be sessions happening by the hour everyday, including yoga (10am to 11am); conventional training (11am to noon); fitness challenge (noon to 2pm and 8pm to 9pm); kids' activities (4pm to 5pm and 6pm to 7pm) and EMS training (5pm to 6pm and 7pm to 8pm). There will also be push-up challenges happening on weekends until Get Fit Abu Dhabi ends on November 30.

Mushrif Mall

Much like Khalidiyah Mall, watch out for sessions happening by the hour everyday. There will be yoga (10am to 11am); conventional training (11am to noon); a fitness challenge (noon to 2pm and 8pm to 9pm); kids' activities (4pm to 5pm and 6pm to 7pm) and EMS training (5pm to 6pm and 7pm to 8pm).

The Galleria Al Maryah Island

Gear up for a host of Zumba, yoga and afro fit sessions taking place throughout the month.

The Mall World Trade Centre

Head down for three spinning sessions on Thursday, November 28, and Saturday, November 30 (at 10am, 2pm, 6pm); and Friday, November 29 (10am and 2pm).

Yas Mall

Spin your way to fitness with three spinning sessions taking place on Thursday, November 21 at 6pm; and Friday and Saturday, November 22 and 23 at 10am, 2pm and 6pm.

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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