ABU DHABI // Hundreds of pupils turned up at the first day of an event to encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Abu Dhabi Alive at Zayed Sports City aims to give children and adults a fun day out paired with an educational experience.
The organisers expect at least 20,000 people to attend the event before it ends on Saturday.
On Thursday, pupils from 26 schools, including 20 from Abu Dhabi, came along to experience the range of activities, which included fitness classes, health check-ups, sports events and healthy eating workshops.
“We want to give people the chance to get a taste of a variety of activities so they can choose the one they prefer. Some people prefer team activities while others like exercising by themselves. There is something for everyone from four year olds to adults,” said Hayete Jemai, exhibition director.
“Abu Dhabi Alive was launched only last year and we had 12,000 visitors. This year, 20,000 people have already pre-registered.”
Activities included games of football, rope swings, bowling, zumba, yoga and trampolines.
The event is run in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, while The National is the official media partner.
Among the sponsors is the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
Mariam Al Zaabi, marketing officer for the federation, said: “Many schools have included jiu-jitsu in their programmes and people are aware of this combat sport in UAE. We have got many visitors and the stand is popular.”
Jasmine Brescak, a teacher at the Dubai branch of the Sharjah American International School, took pupils from Grade Seven to the event.
“This is the first time we have brought them and the children were very excited about coming here,” she said, although she added that some of the queues for activities were quite long.
Jaemie McCluskey, who teaches physical education at the Canadian International School in Abu Dhabi, said: “The mix of activities and variety at the event are excellent. I am very impressed. There are some things people can do in teams and others that they can enjoy by themselves.”
Isra Mohammad, a teacher at Al Nashaa Al Saleh School in Al Ain, said: “My experience at Zayed Sports City has been great. When I asked my students which activities they preferred, the trampoline and wall climbing topped the list. These events are really important as they help shape children’s personalities.
“I tell my students that I will help them have the perfect body and so they are enthusiastic about sports.”
arizvi2@thenational.ae
Wonka
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The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
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%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHigh%20fever%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntense%20pain%20behind%20your%20eyes%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESevere%20headache%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENausea%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVomiting%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESwollen%20glands%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERash%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIf%20symptoms%20occur%2C%20they%20usually%20last%20for%20two-seven%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
'Ashkal'
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Match info
Liverpool 3
Hoedt (10' og), Matip (21'), Salah (45 3')
Southampton 0
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
