Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Emirates School Establishment and Palms Sports launch "Active Hub"

The Abu Dhabi Sports Council, in cooperation with the Emirates Schools Establishment and Palms Sports launched the "Active Hub" program which aims to provide public access to the sports facilities available in 20 schools across the Emirate of Abu Dhab. The facilities will be accessible after official working hours for male and female students, their families, and all members of the society.

The "Active Hub" program was announced today during a press conference held at the headquarters of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, in the presence of His Excellency Talal Al Hashemi, Executive Director of the Sports Development Sector at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, His Excellency Mohammed Hilal Al Balushi, Executive Director of the Strategic Affairs Office at the Department of Community Development, and Mr. Nasser Khamis Al Marri, Director of the Educational Institutions’ Sports Department at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Eng. Khaled Al Ansari from the Emirates Schools Establishment, and Mr. Fouad Darwish, CEO of Palms Sports.

The program will launch next Monday, February 14th. It aims to raise and enhance the level of adoption of sports in the community, encourage the daily practice of sports, and emphasize its role in improving physical fitness and wellbeing.

Nasser Khamis Al Marri, Director of the Educational Institution’s Sports Department at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, stressed the importance and status of the Active Hub program and its anticipated role in spreading the culture of active lifestyle across all segments of society, indicating that it is important to benefit from the sports infrastructure in the schools participating in the program. Active Hub, he added, provides a safe and accessible environment for exercising in the various areas of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra while following and taking into account the precautionary and preventive measures to limit the spread of the Covid 19 virus

Mr. Al Marri stated: "The Active Hub program reflects our constant interest in motivating all segments of society to practice sports, and translates the plans and vision of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi into building a healthy and active community, which supports the quality of life index in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi."

Mr. Al-Marri concluded, "we are pleased to cooperate with the Emirates Schools Establishment and Palms Sports, in organizing this initiative, wishing all participants to benefit from it."

For his part, Eng. Khaled Al-Ansari, representative of the Emirates Schools Establishment, stressed the importance of the "Active Hub" program, which will be launched next week, pointing out that schools are ready to receive all segments of society as of the 14th of February, and that the program covers - geographically - most residential regions of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Eng. Al-Ansari said: "The Active Hub program will encourage more cohesion in our community as it will bring together the family, as well as those living in the same neighborhood, in an environment full of vitality, activity and dynamism.

For his part, Mr. Fouad Darwish, CEO of Palms Sports, expressed his excitement for partnering with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Emirates Schools Establishment to realize the vision and aspirations for the "Active Hub" program. He hoped it will raise the community’s appetite for regular exercise and engagement in all forms of physical activity.

Mr. Darwish said: "The schools participating in the Active Hub program have many distinguished sports facilities that enable all members of society to practice sports safely and effectively. This places Abu Dhabi among the leading countries in terms of quality of life which is a direct translation of the vision of the UAE’s Leadership and their constant endeavors to elevate the standard of living in the country.”

In the city of Abu Dhabi, 10 schools are included in the Active Hub program: Al Qimma - Al Rowad - Al Bawadi - Khalifa A - Abu Dhabi High School - Al Shawamekh - Al Ghazali - Umm Al Arab - Yas - Al Bahia Complex. The schools in Al Ain area include : Al Jahili - Al Tamouh - Ahmed bin Zayed - Al Khair - Al-Ma’ali, and in the Al-Dhafra region: Al-Dhafra - Al-Siddiq - Allegiance of Radwan - Al-Nokhba - Al-Sila’. The sports facilities will be accessible on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays of every week from 16:00 in the evening until 20:00, two days for males and two days for females.

The Abu Dhabi Sports Council works with a specialized team from Palms Sports Company which brings together sports experts and professionals to develop scheduling sports sessions that focus on the elements of enjoyment, participation, and challenge.

Sports training activities include football - volleyball - basketball - fitness classes - aerobics - athletics - swimming - water games - jiu-jitsu... and other sports.

Registration for the program will be available for all segments of society, starting next week, via the online link: activehub.adsc.gov.ae