Evian brings out workers' inner children in Dubai

Isabelle Fee of the UK, left, and Priscilla Burton of Belgium, both of whom work for Barclays, use the Evian-sponsored swing-set yesterday on their lunch break in the DIFC area of Dubai. Christopher Pike / The NationalShow less

DUBAI // Lunchtime turned into fun time for workers at the emirate's business hub who swapped the canteen for an adult playground.

The normally reserved surroundings of DIFC echoed to the sound of laughter as bankers and financial experts let their hair down for a moment or two to take turns to ride the swings set up by Evian water, which set up the playground as part of its "live young as always" campaign.

Despite attracting curious glances from passersby, the playground proved to be a hit with young-at-heart business types.

"It was a lot of fun," said Isabelle Fee, who is from the UK. "I saw it when I was passing but I wasn't sure if I would have a go myself. I'm glad I did now though," she said.

Miss Fee was taking her lunch break with a colleague, Priscilla Burton. Both work as secretaries at a bank.

"I loved it," said Miss Burton.

"It makes a nice change to the usual routine of grabbing a sandwich and heading back to the office.

"I have a pretty big garden at home and I was thinking about getting one of these."

Others needed a little more encouragement to have a go.

"I had seen it and the guys on the stand kept asking me to have a go, so eventually I agreed," said Ali Ostad, who is visiting Dubai on a business trip from London.

"It's nice to break the routine sometimes and I felt like I was a child again when I was on the swing.

"I enjoyed it. You shouldn't take life too seriously and even small things like this can help."

Renaud Marchand, the Middle East director for Evian, said that "babies over the age of 18" were welcome to try out the swings.

The playground will be open opposite the Gramercy bar in DIFC until Thursday from 11am to 7pm.