Nakheel employees climb UAE's tallest mountain

Expedition marked the end of the developer's participation in the Dubai Fitness Challenge

Employees of Nakheel climbed Jabal Jais to mark the end of the Dubai Fitness Challenge on Saturday. Victor Besa for The National.

Three hundred Nakheel staff hiked 15 km to the summit of Jebel Jais to mark the grand finale of the Dubai Fitness Challenge.

The group ascended 1,900 metres to the peak of the UAE’s highest mountain, topping off more than 300 sporting events by Nakheel over the last four weeks, and consolidating the company’s position as the group corporate leader in its category.

Over the past four weeks, Nakheel employees cycled 500 kilometres, walked 150 km, ran 30 km and kayaked 10 km, and completed a host of other activities. They spent more than 120 hours at boot camp, training or aerobics sessions, 40 hours walking, 16 hours on their bikes and nearly 100 hours on other sports. All activities took place outside office hours.

“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,” said Nakheel chairman Ali Rashid Lootah, who led the Jebel Jais expedition. “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 newfound fitness, friendship and fellowship at our company, and I am overwhelmed by our winning performance in our corporate group.”

The hiking event, held in conjunction with the Ras Al Khaimah 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.