The Emirates Group is preparing to involve nearly 24,000 employees in the 10th edition of the Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC), reinforcing its commitment to workplace health and active lifestyles. The initiative reflects the Group’s continued support for Dubai’s wider ambition to become one of the world’s most active cities through community participation and regular physical activity.
Running from October 31 to November 29, 2026, the month long challenge encourages participants to complete 30 minutes of exercise or 10,000 steps every day for 30 days. The Emirates Group is supporting the campaign through employee participation in major sporting events, internal fitness activities and wellbeing programmes designed to encourage healthier daily habits.
Emirates Employees to Join Major Dubai Fitness Events
The Emirates Group will participate in two major community events under the challenge: Dubai Ride on November 1 and Dubai Run on November 22. More than 3,200 Group employees participated in Dubai Run in 2025, while the organisation is aiming to increase registrations to more than 4,000 employees this year.
Employees have already registered for Dubai Ride, while preparations are underway for the larger Dubai Run participation. Through these events, the Group aims to encourage colleagues from different departments to take part in shared physical activities and become more involved in Dubai’s fitness movement.
Sports Clubs Expand Participation Across Different Activities
The Group’s more than 20 sports and hobby clubs are also taking part in the Dubai Fitness Challenge through a range of sporting activities. The Emirates Engineering Cricket Club will join the official DFC tournament, with fixtures beginning on November 4, while the Emirates Road Cycling Club will participate in Dubai Ride.
Other clubs are also preparing for competitions and community events throughout November. The Emirates Paddling Club will take part in the fourth edition of the Dubai Stand Up Paddle (SUP) event on November 7 and 8, while the Emirates Group Basketball Club will compete in a tournament scheduled from November 4 to 26. These activities provide employees with different ways to participate in the month-long fitness campaign.
Special Activities Mark the Challenge’s 10th Anniversary
To mark the 10th edition of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, four members of the Emirates Scuba Diving Club took the celebration underwater at The Lost Chambers Aquarium at Atlantis, The Palm. The employee divers unveiled a sign carrying the message, “We’re celebrating 10 years of DFC, what’s your 30×30?”, highlighting that fitness can take different forms beyond conventional exercise.
The Group has also organised a corporate fitness session at Za’abeel Park Fitness Village, where nearly 300 employees are expected to train together with colleagues from across the organisation. The session adds another opportunity for staff to participate in group exercise and experience the wider community atmosphere of the challenge.
Wellbeing Programme and Special Incentives Encourage Healthy Habits
Alongside sporting activities, the Group’s employee wellbeing programme, Sehaty, will share practical guidance on fitness, nutrition and mental wellbeing throughout the month. The year-round programme is supported by Group Medical Services, Clinical Psychology and the Employee Assistance Programme, helping employees develop healthier habits both at work and at home.
The Emirates Official Store has also introduced new EK FIT and EK TRAVEL collections, featuring performance wear, accessories and loungewear in navy, almond, burgundy and olive. Prices start at AED 55, with the products available through the Emirates online store and its official retail outlets across Dubai. The collections add a retail element to the Group’s wider participation in the fitness campaign.
The Group is also offering an additional incentive to encourage participation. Permanent employees who register and complete 30 minutes of physical activity or 10,000 steps every day for all 30 days will receive one Service-Related Concession ticket to any destination across the Emirates network, which covers nearly 140 destinations. The reward is intended to motivate employees to maintain consistent physical activity and build healthier routines beyond the challenge period.
