Ten selected athletes, including UAE jiu jitsu world champion Faisal Al Ketbi and Emirati adventurer Khalifa Al Mazrouei, are embarking on a 1,000-kilometer journey across the Abu Dhabi desert over 30 days. Conceived by Mansour Al Dhaheri, the Emirati athlete who swam 62 kilometers around Abu Dhabi island last year to raise environmental awareness, Walk1000 aims to inspire Abu Dhabi residents to embrace a healthier lifestyle and 'get active'. The walkathon, which begins on November 2, starts in Al Sila'a and concludes at the Zayed Heritage Festival in Al Wathba, coinciding with UAE National Day. Traversing Abu Dhabi's ancient sites, natural reserves, and the Empty Quarter, the challenge also emphasizes cultural preservation and environmental awareness. Key sites include Umm Hosn Fort, Jebel Hafeet tombs, Al Ain Oasis, Hili Archeological Park, and pre-historic elephant footprints.

Al Mazrouei, a wildlife expert and filmmaker, has documented nearly every native UAE species during his expeditions across the emirates’ caves, mountains, and seas. He expressed particular excitement about the possibility of spotting the elusive sand cat during this mission. 'I have been trying to spot it for six years; it is very difficult to find because it usually wanders around at night and doesn’t leave any footprints behind,' said the 32-year-old. 'The environment we’ll be walking in is quite compatible with the sand cat, so now I have a bigger chance to see it.'

Walk1000 includes athletes from diverse fitness backgrounds—ranging from seasoned marathoners and mountaineers to an artist who has not been actively involved in sports as an adult. Tarek Ahmad, a 34-year-old engineer, actor, musician, and opera singer, was selected from dozens of candidates due to his interest and commitment. 'When I was selected as a nominee, I thought I was auditioning for a film production,' said the Egyptian expat. 'When they explained the challenge to me, I said, 'how can we walk that long in the desert?'' Despite his initial doubts, Ahmad underwent a comprehensive training program focusing on physical and mental strength, as well as nutrition. Drawing from his entertainment background, Ahmad plans to organize games for his fellow participants during the challenge.

World jiu jitsu champion Faisal Al Ketbi emphasized that this mission demands more mental fortitude than physical energy. 'Normally a jiu jitsu fight lasts for up to six minutes where we focus and put in as much power as we can, but this challenge will take more than eight hours a day for a period of 30 days, so winning the mental battle will be the real challenge,' said the 37-year-old Emirati. 'I am not a walker, or marathoner or even a runner, but as athletes it is our role to inspire the people around us to move and enhance their lifestyle.' Al Ketbi expressed excitement about discovering Abu Dhabi’s natural treasures, stating, 'As a sportsman I travel a lot and never had the chance to stay long enough to explore our wildlife and desert. I’m looking forward to experiencing how our ancestors lived.'

Walk1000 is organized by Active Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with Pure Health and Abu Dhabi Sports Council. The public is encouraged to participate through the PURA app, where they can join virtual walks and a challenge to walk 1000 steps every day. Walk1000’s proceedings will be streamed across Active Abu Dhabi’s social media platforms. Pure Health, the provider of the PURA app, is also attempting to break a world record by involving the largest number of people to walk 2 kilometers over the course of 24 hours.

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