UAE’s yoga drive: School rollout, Dubai Fitness Challenge event, Asian championship

Dubai: From hosting the GCC’s first Asian Yogasana Championship to adding a new flagship event in the upcoming Dubai Fitness Challenge, the UAE is intensifying efforts to promote holistic wellness and embed yoga into everyday life. This multi-pronged initiative also includes plans to introduce yoga into school curricula.

Unveiling a slew of new measures aimed at enhancing mental and physical well-being across all age groups, Ahmed Ibrahim, President of the UAE Yoga Committee and Vice President of the Asian Yogasana Federation, said the goal is to establish yoga as a lifestyle in the UAE.

“We have the first Asian Yogasana Championship in August,” he said, referring to the milestone event to be held in Fujairah from August 9 to 11 – the first of its kind in the GCC. The sixth edition of the championship is being organised by the Ministry of Sports, in collaboration with the UAE Sports for All Federation and the UAE Yoga Committee, under the aegis of the Asian Yogasana Sport Federation.

The competition will include multiple age categories, with each participant required to perform a set number of yoga poses to advance to the next round.

“In each category, participants will perform five to six poses. For example, children will demonstrate five poses, while adults may perform six. Completing the set is essential to qualify for the next round,” Ibrahim explained.

Last month, the Asian Yogasana Sport Federation (AYSF) held a successful one-day workshop in Arabic that drew participants from the UAE, Bahrain, Palestine, Iraq, Kuwait, Egypt, and Algeria, featuring training courses for both referees and coaches.

“Today, we have Emirati boys and girls certified as judges and coaches, along with participants from various other nationalities,” he said.

Beyond the competitive arena, the UAE is also looking to integrate yoga into the education sector.

“We are approaching several schools to add yoga to their curriculum,” Ibrahim said, noting proposals discussed during the AYSF workshop to integrate yoga into schools and universities, develop tailored systems to suit local needs, and expand educational pathways for yoga across the Arab world.

Calling Dubai a “challenging city” with a fast-paced lifestyle, he emphasised the need to balance the intensity of daily life by introducing yoga into schools and communities.

“The goal is to make it a part of daily life… a lifestyle,” he said.

In a major development, this year’s Dubai Fitness Challenge will feature a brand-new flagship event titled ‘Dubai Yoga’, which will conclude the 30-day initiative with a sunset yoga session on November 30.

“Yoga will be one of the main pillars of the Fitness Challenge,” Ibrahim added.

The Dubai Fitness Challenge, which encourages 30 minutes of daily physical activity for 30 days, has grown rapidly in popularity over the years, attracting millions of participants annually.

Meanwhile, the committee is also gearing up for the International Day of Yoga 2025 on June 21, with events planned across more than 35 venues throughout the UAE.