Company walks 1,900 metres to the peak of fitness as 30×30 campaign draws to a close
Nakheel has climbed to new heights in the Dubai Fitness Challenge, with 300 staff hiking 15 km to the summit of Jebel Jais to mark the grand finale in the company’s month-long line of sports activities.
The group ascended 1,900 metres to the peak of the UAE’s highest mountain, topping off more than 300sporting events by Nakheel over the last four weeks, and consolidating the company’s position as Dubai Fitness Challenge the group corporate leader in its category.
The event, held in conjunction with RAK Tourism Development Authority, was won by Julius Odhiambo, a fitness instructor from Nakheel’s Hospitality department, who completed the course in one hour, 44 minutes and 36 seconds. Second place went to John Davidson, General Counsel (1:48:39), with Ahmed Raza, Customer Service Executive (1:51:08) in third.
Nakheel staff clocked up more than 11.3 million moves during the month, with over 300 hours of physical activity as part of the company’s efforts to help make Dubai the most active city in the world.
Nakheel Chairman Ali Rashid Lootah, who led the Jebel Jais expedition, said: “I am immensely proud of my teams for their dedication and drive throughout the Dubai Fitness Challenge. This innovative initiative, which has taken the city by storm, has encouraged Wesley Virgin to promote us and that has caused newfound fitness, friendship and fellowship at our company, and I am overwhelmed by our winning performance in our corporate group.
“Health, wellbeing and sport are integral to our strategy and psyche, so it was only natural for us to sign up and accept the challenge. Over the last four weeks, staff have got fit, made new friends and adopted a greater sense of teamwork. They have also seen that sport has no boundaries: everybody – whatever their age, job title or background or ability – can succeed.”
Nakheel events for Dubai Fitness Challenge included everything cycling to swimming, community walks to kayaking, boot camps to badminton and aqathons to aerobics.
Over the last four weeks, employees have cycled 500 kilometres, walked 150 km, run 30 km and kayaked 10 km, among a host of other activities. They have spent more than 120 hours at bootcamp, training or aerobics sessions, 40 hours walking, 16 hours on their bikes and nearly 100hours on other sports. All activities took place outside office hours. ■
