Dubai Internet City Hosts Yogafest Dubai for Seventh Consecutive Year 

Dubai Internet City Hosts Yogafest Dubai for Seventh Consecutive Year

Nov 2018

Dubai, UAE

Dubai Internet City (DIC), a member of TECOM Group, and one of the largest ICT hubs in the Middle East, hosted the seventh edition of the annual Yogafest, one of the largest yoga gatherings in the world, as part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, a government initiative, at Dubai Internet City. 

The successful three-day event that drew the participation of over 5,000 visitors, offered fitness enthusiasts of all age groups over 130 free yoga classes and related wellness activities, led by renowned international practitioners. Held at the ICT communities’ amphitheatre, the event featured seven tents, including a dedicated Yoga Tent, a so-called Healing Hut, a Shakti Tent, a Movement Tent, a Meditation Tent, a Family Tent as well as a Learning and Al Jalila Tent.

Speaking on the successful partnership with the Yogafest organisers, Ammar Al Malik, Managing Director of Dubai Internet City, said: “While our mandate first and foremost remains to provide the regional ICT sector with the infrastructure for the diversification of Dubai’s economy, we firmly believe that extending a holistic offering, including sporting activities, adds to the attractiveness of our community. By bringing back Yogafest Dubai for the seventh consecutive year, we make a firm commitment to our support of the Dubai Fitness Challenge and to our partners from Yogafest. Dubai”

Notable classes given during the festival, included a mediation class given by Dr Awatif Sharaf, the Vice President of Bahrain Meditation Centre, who led a Raja yoga meditation class that required attendees to concentrate at one point with the aim to help them release stress and resolve inner conflicts. Master Oh, a London-based Qi Gong practitioner who gave a class on how to get in touch with one’s inner self. While Diana Bordón, another practitioner, taught participants how to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles during a fun and engaging facial yoga session. Aimed at inducing genuine feelings of joy through prolonged voluntary laughter, Suman Saneja, led a laughter yoga session that attracted attendees in large numbers.

Parents with children flocked to the dedicated Family Tent that hosted a variety of tailored classes, such as yoga with children, prenatal yoga, mother-and-daughter yoga, family yoga, and partner yoga.  Al Jalila Foundation was the benefactor of all charitable donations received during the event supporting their Ta’alouf programme that aims to empower carers of children with special needs. The funds will finance six weeks of intensive training for parents of children with learning differences to help them support their offspring with schoolwork.

In line with the wellness and sustainability theme of the festival, healthy food vendors and eco-friendly product retailers set up shop on the lawns of the amphitheatre, offering yet another reason for the health-conscious crowd to visit the festival.