Healthy development

Al Ain promises to be much more than UAE's "home of football".

'This is as good as it can get." That was the verdict from Ahmed Abdullah, the Al Ain football great, when assessing the city's new Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. Abdullah – who played 17 seasons for the club, scoring 124 league goals, and was a mainstay of its coaching staff after his retirement – certainly knows his stuff when it comes to first-class football facilities, and he is right in saying that the 25,000-seat arena is state of the art.

But, as good as the stadium already is, it is going to get even better. Plans are underway for an adjoining “sports zone”, including what’s being billed as Abu Dhabi emirate’s largest gym, a pool, cycling and walking tracks and a commercial and residential complex.

The result is that Al Ain will not just be the place to watch a great football team in action, it will be a place for residents and visitors to work on their personal fitness in a fun environment. There will be a taste of what’s to come this weekend, with the three-day Big Kick-Off family festival, offering running, juggling, high-jumping, BMX riding and climbing activities and free fitness advice.

Al Ain already prides itself on being the home of football in the UAE; it is now leading the way in helping build a healthier nation.