Dubai residents should double the amount they walk in a day to maintain a healthy lifestyle, the latest research has shown.
People in the emirate take an average of 5,500 steps a day instead of the recommended 10,000, with one in 20 admitting they rarely go for a walk at all.
The most active Dubai walkers only take about 7,900 steps on average – still 2,100 steps short of the daily target.
A new study by the real estate developer Limitless found that five percent of Dubai residents who they questioned said they had not walked anywhere in the last week.
The poll asked 625 people from across the emirate about their walking habits and tracked the number of steps 188 participants took using pedometers.
Asians and Westerners were found to walk the most, taking on average 6,687 and 6,135 steps a day respectively. Residents of Bur Dubai walked more than people living in other parts of the city, the study found.
Shopping malls were the most popular place to walk, followed by beaches and Dubai Creek. A total of 99 percent of Emiratis said the mall was their main walking destination and that their visit usually lasted an hour.
Saeed Ahmed Saeed, CEO of Limitless, said: “Physical inactivity can cost economies billions of dollars, as it places enormous strain on health services and lost working days through sick leave. Walkable communities with carefully planned infrastructure contribute to a more sustainable society by boosting the economy, improving social lives and reducing harmful emission from cars.”
Go the distance
Gold Souq to Deira Old Souq (Arba Street) 1,502 steps
Burjuman to Dubai Museum 2,153 steps
Jumeriah Beach Residence (end to end) 3,988 steps
Safa Park (perimeter) 4,175 steps
