The Active Abu Dhabi Move Challenge records 2.31 million steps in July, August, according to a report from the Emirates News Agency. Participants covered a total distance of 1,735 kilometres through the CityMoov app backed by the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre during that period. The initiative focused on incorporating physical activity into daily life via location-linked digital tasks at shopping venues across the emirate.
The Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre reported that the challenge was designed to reach a wider audience than conventional fitness programmes that frequently emphasise competition and advanced abilities. No minimum fitness level or pace was mandated, permitting each individual to move according to personal capacity from brief exercises to relaxed walks while navigating stores. This structure allowed movement to blend into routine mall visits without demanding schedule adjustments or extra time commitments.
Five shopping centres were selected to host the CityMoov challenges in order to engage the largest possible segment of Abu Dhabi’s residents, the Public Health Centre stated. The venues comprised Al Dhafra Mall, Al Foah Mall, Al Wahda Mall, Dalma Mall and Al Khalidiya Mall. Their distribution throughout the emirate supported the goal of making the programme accessible to diverse community groups.
Figures from the Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development show that 60.3 per cent of the emirate’s residents met World Health Organisation physical activity recommendations in 2025, an increase from 53.6 per cent in 2024. The department’s survey drew nearly 31,000 responses that year, up from 21,000 the previous cycle. Earlier CityMoov app data tracked in Al Ittihad newspaper indicated 1.5 million steps accumulated in prior challenges, illustrating sustained interest in these digital wellness activities.
Active Abu Dhabi concluded its involvement in the Abu Dhabi Summer Sports 2026 programme with 15,557 summer camp participants as of mid-August, according to the organisation’s update. The initiative, which delivers more than 60 community events annually, collaborates with partners to position movement as an everyday habit. Mansour Al Dhaheri, chairman of Active Abu Dhabi, noted the value of joint efforts in expanding opportunities for all community segments.
The Department of Community Development launched the fifth Sports and Physical Activity Survey in October 2026 in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi. This cycle examines participation patterns, preferred activities, motivational factors and obstacles including time constraints and facility availability. Results from the preceding survey also recorded gains among UAE nationals to 54.3 per cent, children meeting daily activity targets to 14.8 per cent and people of determination participating weekly to 46.5 per cent.
