The fourth annual Dubai Fitness Challenge will kick-off on Friday, October 30, bringing with it 30 days of action-packed events that will continue until Saturday, November 28.
The initiative, launched by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai in 2016, encourages residents to participate in 30 minutes of activity every day for 30 days, with the hope of creating a habit that will remain long after the challenge ends.
For those looking to participate, there will be a host of events, sports and wellness programmes available to make fitness more accessible. This year, event organisers intend to keep the city moving through a mix of physical and virtual events. Here's how you can get involved in Dubai Fitness Challenge 2020.
Start by getting the right gear at the DFC mega sale
From Thursday, October 29 to Saturday, October 31, there will be a Dubai Fitness Challenge mega sale taking place at Dubai Mall, with up to 90 per cent off on gym wear, sports equipment and wellness products across brands. Meanwhile, throughout the month of November, UAE residents can expect offers, packages and promotions both online and in-store across fitness and wellness brands, retail outlets and hotels.
Take advantage of the free virtual resources
This year, DFC will have a special focus on at-home workout sessions, with free fitness content for all ages and abilities available throughout the Dubai Fitness Challenge website.
Participants can visit the site for workout videos, 30-day exercise programmes, discipline challenges, healthy recipes, health and wellness articles, vlogs, educational videos for children and more from experts in the fitness industry.
For the first time, participants in the challenge will be able to get free 30-day access to DFC's partner apps – Fitbit Premium, NEOU, Sweat, Daily Burn, Les Mills on Demand and FIIT. Using these apps, you can explore everything from HIIT-centric programmes to body weight workouts from the comfort of your home.
Register for the Dubai Run
Last year's Dubai Run had more than 70,000 runners take over Sheikh Zayed Road. This year, the flagship event comes with a twist – to prevent overcrowding, the entire city of Dubai will turn into a running track on Friday, November 27, with the event open to all ages, ability and fitness levels.
The event is free to enter and participants will be able to choose their own track in any community or neighbourhood, as well as their pace, distance, and whether they want to run solo or with buddies (groups have to be restricted to a maximum of five).
To help runners put their best foot forward, this year Dubai Fitness Challenge is launching 28-day training programmes curated by professional coaches and athletes such as Manal Rostom, Luke Mathews, Lee Ryan and Luke Gaffney. The training programmes will be available on the Dubai Run website and will provide support and step-by-step fitness guides for all levels.
Registrations are now open at www.dubairun.com
Join in on free workout sessions across the city
This year will see the return of Dubai Fitness Challenge's City is a Gym initiative in partnership with Etisalat. Participants can access a virtual map of Dubai, with 30 locations across the city featuring workouts that have been specially curated by fitness instructors.
Individuals scanning a QR code at the location will be able to access a workout unique to that place, and there will be no equipment required to get started.
Take in the sights with Dubai running tours
New this year is a programme of running tours organised in association with Arabian Adventures and Asics Runners. Those participating will get an on-foot view of some of Dubai's famous landmarks. Choose from three different routes with varying difficulty levels - a 5 kilometre fun run around Burj Lake in Downtown Dubai; an advanced 10km beach run along Kite Beach; and a self-guided 3km treasure hunt quest in the Dubai Creek area - all of which available for free on the Questo city explorer mobile game. The tours will be available throughout the 30 days of the challenge.
Explore the Fitness Villages
Like last year, certain areas in the city will be home to fitness villages, with a number of activities taking place within.
DP World Fitness Village Kite Beach will be an open-air setting offering family-friendly activities spread across sixteen zones. Visitors can access it during the 30 days from 2pm to 11pm, Sunday to Thursday and 7am to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The area will feature a beach football pitch, dedicated kids' play area, obstacles, a mirror room and more.
The Emirates NBD Fitness Village Al Khawaneej will focus on family-oriented activities in the park. Open to visitors from 4pm to 11pm Saturday to Wednesday, and 4pm to midnight on Thursdays and Fridays, the outdoor area will be transformed into five distinct zones, featuring a cycle hub, a community stage, a family box, a dedicated women’s pavilion and a kids’ play area.
The Mai Dubai Fitness Village Festival City Mall will be a new adventure spot, accessible from Friday, November 6. At its centre will be The Arch, a giant state-of-the-art multipurpose attraction that will host four activities - a climbing wall, zip line, bag jump and quick flight. There will also be four activity zones with football, basketball, pump track and a workout stage.
Aside from the Dubai Run, there will be a packed calendar of racing events and activities taking place throughout the month of November for those looking to test their limits. Currently, there are 11 Dubai Fitness Challenge events taking place, and more are likely to be added to the roster.
Here are the challenges you can sign up to:
- Dubai Sports World (Friday, October 30 to Saturday, November 28)
- Desert Palm X-country Race 1 (Friday, October 30)
- Dubai Festival City Dragon Boat Race (Saturday, October 31)
- Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic – Ladies Golf (Wednesday, November 4 to Friday, November 6)
- Super Sports Run Race 2 (Friday, November 6)
- Al Marmoom Dune Run(Friday, November 20)
- Grit + Tonic Triathlon Hatta (Friday, November 13)
- Sketchers Performance Run (Friday, November 13)
- La Mer Open Water Swim (Saturday, November 14)
- Under Armour Functional Fitness Challenge (Friday, November 20)
- Spinneys Family Fun Run 5 (Saturday, November 28)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.5-litre%204-cylinder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20101hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20135Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Six-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh79%2C900%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Brief scores:
Manchester United 4
Young 13', Mata 28', Lukaku 42', Rashford 82'
Fulham 1
Kamara 67' (pen),
Red card: Anguissa (68')
Man of the match: Juan Mata (Man Utd)
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Political flags or banners
-
Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Command%20Z
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3ESteven%20Soderbergh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EMichael%20Cera%2C%20Liev%20Schreiber%2C%20Chloe%20Radcliffe%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A03%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
MATCH INFO
Bayern Munich 2 Borussia Monchengladbach 1
Bayern: Zirkzee (26'), Goretzka (86')
Gladbach: Pavard (37' og)
Man of the Match: Breel Embolo (Borussia Monchengladbach)
BIOSAFETY LABS SECURITY LEVELS
Biosafety Level 1
The lowest safety level. These labs work with viruses that are minimal risk to humans.
Hand washing is required on entry and exit and potentially infectious material decontaminated with bleach before thrown away.
Must have a lock. Access limited. Lab does not need to be isolated from other buildings.
Used as teaching spaces.
Study microorganisms such as Staphylococcus which causes food poisoning.
Biosafety Level 2
These labs deal with pathogens that can be harmful to people and the environment such as Hepatitis, HIV and salmonella.
Working in Level 2 requires special training in handling pathogenic agents.
Extra safety and security precautions are taken in addition to those at Level 1
Biosafety Level 3
These labs contain material that can be lethal if inhaled. This includes SARS coronavirus, MERS, and yellow fever.
Significant extra precautions are taken with staff given specific immunisations when dealing with certain diseases.
Infectious material is examined in a biological safety cabinet.
Personnel must wear protective gowns that must be discarded or decontaminated after use.
Strict safety and handling procedures are in place. There must be double entrances to the building and they must contain self-closing doors to reduce risk of pathogen aerosols escaping.
Windows must be sealed. Air from must be filtered before it can be recirculated.
Biosafety Level 4
The highest level for biosafety precautions. Scientist work with highly dangerous diseases that have no vaccine or cure.
All material must be decontaminated.
Personnel must wear a positive pressure suit for protection. On leaving the lab this must pass through decontamination shower before they have a personal shower.
Entry is severely restricted to trained and authorised personnel. All entries are recorded.
Entrance must be via airlocks.
Fixtures
Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs
Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms
Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles
Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon
Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon
match info
Southampton 0
Arsenal 2 (Nketiah 20', Willock 87')
Red card: Jack Stephens (Southampton)
Man of the match: Rob Holding (Arsenal)
THE BIO
Occupation: Specialised chief medical laboratory technologist
Age: 78
Favourite destination: Always Al Ain “Dar Al Zain”
Hobbies: his work - “ the thing which I am most passionate for and which occupied all my time in the morning and evening from 1963 to 2019”
Other hobbies: football
Favorite football club: Al Ain Sports Club
The biog
Hometown: Birchgrove, Sydney Australia
Age: 59
Favourite TV series: Outlander Netflix series
Favourite place in the UAE: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque / desert / Louvre Abu Dhabi
Favourite book: Father of our Nation: Collected Quotes of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Thing you will miss most about the UAE: My friends and family, Formula 1, having Friday's off, desert adventures, and Arabic culture and people
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
How to invest in gold
Investors can tap into the gold price by purchasing physical jewellery, coins and even gold bars, but these need to be stored safely and possibly insured.
A cheaper and more straightforward way to benefit from gold price growth is to buy an exchange-traded fund (ETF).
Most advisers suggest sticking to “physical” ETFs. These hold actual gold bullion, bars and coins in a vault on investors’ behalf. Others do not hold gold but use derivatives to track the price instead, adding an extra layer of risk. The two biggest physical gold ETFs are SPDR Gold Trust and iShares Gold Trust.
Another way to invest in gold’s success is to buy gold mining stocks, but Mr Gravier says this brings added risks and can be more volatile. “They have a serious downside potential should the price consolidate.”
Mr Kyprianou says gold and gold miners are two different asset classes. “One is a commodity and the other is a company stock, which means they behave differently.”
Mining companies are a business, susceptible to other market forces, such as worker availability, health and safety, strikes, debt levels, and so on. “These have nothing to do with gold at all. It means that some companies will survive, others won’t.”
By contrast, when gold is mined, it just sits in a vault. “It doesn’t even rust, which means it retains its value,” Mr Kyprianou says.
You may already have exposure to gold miners in your portfolio, say, through an international ETF or actively managed mutual fund.
You could spread this risk with an actively managed fund that invests in a spread of gold miners, with the best known being BlackRock Gold & General. It is up an incredible 55 per cent over the past year, and 240 per cent over five years. As always, past performance is no guide to the future.
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
In the Restaurant: Society in Four Courses
Christoph Ribbat
Translated by Jamie Searle Romanelli
Pushkin Press
Crime%20Wave
%3Cp%3EHeavyweight%20boxer%20Fury%20revealed%20on%20Sunday%20his%20cousin%20had%20been%20%E2%80%9Cstabbed%20in%20the%20neck%E2%80%9D%20and%20called%20on%20the%20courts%20to%20address%20the%20wave%20of%20more%20sentencing%20of%20offenders.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERico%20Burton%2C%2031%2C%20was%20found%20with%20stab%20wounds%20at%20around%203am%20on%20Sunday%20in%20Goose%20Green%2C%20Altrincham%20and%20subsequently%20died%20of%20his%20injuries.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%26nbsp%3B%E2%80%9CMy%20cousin%20was%20murdered%20last%20night%2C%20stabbed%20in%20the%20neck%20this%20is%20becoming%20ridiculous%20%E2%80%A6%20idiots%20carry%20knives.%20This%20needs%20to%20stop%2C%E2%80%9D%0D%20Fury%20said.%20%E2%80%9CAsap%2C%20UK%20government%20needs%20to%20bring%20higher%20sentencing%20for%20knife%20crime%2C%20it%E2%80%99s%20a%20pandemic%20%26amp%3B%20you%20don%E2%80%99t%20know%20how%20bad%20it%20is%20until%20%5Bit%E2%80%99s%5D%201%20of%20your%20own!%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
