The Abu Dhabi Health Festival launched a three-city tour to observe residents’ daily habits, promoting awareness, gathering lifestyle data, and encouraging healthier choices through interactive screenings, workshops, and community engagement.
Three-City Tour Launched by Abu Dhabi Health Festival to Observe Residents’ Daily Habits
Senior officials announced on Wednesday that Abu Dhabi will introduce a new health-focused festival this month designed to encourage better movement, sleep, nutrition, and mental wellness, while also monitoring how people’s habits evolve over time.
The Festival of Health will take place across three weekends, with events scheduled in Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafra, and Al Ain.
Abu Dhabi is set to roll out a major health-focused festival this month, aiming to inspire residents to adopt healthier routines while also studying how their behaviors shift over time. During a press briefing on Wednesday, senior officials explained that the initiative will spotlight four key pillars of wellbeing: physical activity, quality sleep, balanced nutrition, and mental health. The goal is not only to raise awareness but also to equip the community with practical tools and resources that can lead to long-term lifestyle improvements.
What makes the event unique is its focus on tracking real changes in people’s daily habits. Through various activities, assessments, and interactive sessions, participants will have opportunities to reflect on their current routines and receive guidance on how to enhance them. Officials emphasized that this data-driven approach will help shape future public health strategies and ensure that programs meet the actual needs of the population.
The Festival of Health will unfold over three consecutive weekends, bringing its activities to different parts of the emirate. Residents in Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafra, and Al Ain will each have access to the festival’s lineup of workshops, demonstrations, screenings, and wellness experiences. By spreading the event across multiple cities, organisers hope to reach a wide and diverse audience, strengthening community engagement and promoting healthier living throughout the region.
A major component of this transformation will depend on tracking how people actually take part in health activities. One official explained that meaningful progress relies on solid data. She noted that analysing information has already helped identify which districts face higher obesity rates and the possible reasons behind them—whether due to limited access to gyms, lack of walkable spaces, or reduced motivation among residents over 45 to adjust their lifestyles.
Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary at the Department of Health, said that the emirate’s Sahatna app will play a central role in this effort. The platform will log participation levels, step counts, and overall engagement, giving authorities clearer insight into the barriers residents encounter, whether those involve physical activity, availability of facilities, or general health awareness.
She also highlighted that Sahatna will serve as the main registration hub for festival programs and future wellbeing initiatives. According to Dr. Al Ghaithi, continuous measurement—both in terms of numbers and impact—will be essential moving forward. The app will offer users tailored reminders and suggestions informed by their step activity, medical details, and other health metrics, helping guide them toward more sustainable lifestyle improvements.
