By 6.30am, Dubai was already warm.
That did not stop a strong crowd from turning up at Jumeirah Beach Hotel this morning for the latest One Body Co. Together community workout.
The free session, held in collaboration with Dubai Sports Council, brought fitness regulars, first-timers and families together in one of the city’s most recognisable settings.
Participants trained facing Jumeirah Beach Hotel, with the Burj Al Arab behind them. It made the early start easier, even as the temperature began to rise.
Training in front of the Burj Al Arab
Rio Ferdinand, the former Manchester United and England defender, attended with his wife Kate. Their presence added interest, but the morning still felt more like a community session than a celebrity appearance.
Rio’s daughter was there with friends too, which suited the family feel of the morning.
The event, organised by Dubai Sports Council is pushing to make sport part of daily life in the city. Today, that meant a simple format. Turn up, train, and start the day with other people.
The session had a relaxed feel, helped by the mix of people taking part and a live DJ keeping the energy up. Some participants looked comfortable from the start. Others looked pleased enough to have made it out of bed.
There was room for a lighter moment, too.
During my chat with Rio and Kate, I asked who was more likely to press snooze before a 6.30am workout, Kate did not need long to answer. She pointed to Rio.
Two young squat hold competition winners
The loudest cheers came at the end, when two children won a squat-hold competition after outlasting the rest of the field.
Both received prizes from Jumeirah Beach Hotel, including a luxury spa experience and an overnight stay.
It was a good finish to a morning that worked because it stayed simple. People turned up, trained together and enjoyed a Sunday by the beach before the heat fully took over.
