Ahmad Al Khatib Expands Community Fitness Programs to Combat UAE Sedentary Rates

Ahmad Al Khatib, a Jordanian-Palestinian expat and founder of the fitness initiative ‘Original Fitness Co’, is expanding community-based health programs across the UAE to combat rising sedentary lifestyle rates. Operating primarily in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the movement coordinates mass-participation fitness sessions and corporate wellness workshops to integrate physical activity into daily urban life. Data-Driven Health Shifts The initiative focuses on accessible outdoor training, utilizing public parks and community spaces to remove the financial barriers of traditional gym memberships. Al Khatib, who transitioned from a corporate career to the wellness sector, identified a gap in the market for structured, group-led exercise that prioritizes social accountability and long-term behavioral changes over short-term aesthetic goals. Recent data from the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) indicates that nearly 68% of the adult population is considered overweight or obese. Al Khatib’s programs aim to lower these metrics by providing scaled workouts suitable for varying fitness levels, ranging from high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to specialized sessions for seniors…