‘DFC Addicts’: These tourists travel to Dubai every year to take part in fitness challenges

The 6th edition of the event began on October 29th, attracting thousands of residents to beaches, parks and outdoor spaces to practice physical activities

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For Lyndsay, the Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC) is the perfect excuse to travel to Dubai every year. While walking to the beach during a visit in 2019, the Scottish national noticed fitness equipment. I assumed it was an organized event, she said. I was surprised when I discovered it was a fitness village that was free and open to everyone.

After the Covid pandemic, she returned to DFC for the first time in 2022. Her friend Jo accompanied her on these trips. We are absolutely attached to the event, said Jo. We have already participated in several events.

The sixth edition of this fitness challenge kicked off in Dubai on Saturday, October 29, attracting thousands of residents who flocked to beaches, parks and various outdoor locations to participate in physical activities.

Lyndsay and Jo say what they love most about DFC is the buzz and energy. There are various age groups, cultures and physical abilities – working together in an inclusive environment, Jo said.

These two friends are among the many visitors traveling to the UAE just in time for the Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC), eager to savor the excitement as the entire city transforms into a vast open-air gym.

In 2017, Indian expatriate Rahib Mohammed, who worked as a night shift civil engineer in Dubai, was unable to attend any of the fitness events during the first edition of DFC. This left him frustrated and discouraged. It was then that I realized how important fitness was for me, he said, speaking to Khaleej Times. I couldn’t find time for this and it made me very angry.

With this realization, Rahib quit his job, returned to India and changed careers to become a famous personal trainer with clients from all over the world. Today, he divides his time between India and the United Arab Emirates. However, the one thing he never misses is DFC. No matter where I am, I always come back to Dubai for the fitness challenge, he said. I’ve never seen a city champion exercising like Dubai. There are so many free activities throughout the city and that includes everyone. No one is left behind.

He continued: What I love about DFC is how it turns fitness into fun. When you go to gyms around the world, they will tell you things like “no pain, no gain” and “go hard or go home.” But not Dubai. Here, fitness is fun, enjoyable and achievable. When you speak for 30 minutes, it becomes a very achievable goal for people. I really take my hat off to this city for what they do.

An initiative of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, DFC aims to make Dubai the fittest city in the world and has inspired more than 2.2 million people to adopt a lifestyle healthier life. .

Last year, Rahib participated in the Dubai Ride. However, this year, due to work commitments, he will not be able to participate in the cycling race. This year, I am participating in the Dubai Run, he said. I’ve already assembled my team and we’re all training together. I can’t wait to run down Sheikh Zayed Road.