Ten athletes, including UAE jiu-jitsu world champion Faisal Al Ketbi and Emirati adventurer Khalifa Al Mazrouei, are set to embark on a 1,000-kilometer desert walk across Abu Dhabi over 30 days, raising environmental awareness. The initiative, named “Walk1000,” was conceived by Mansour Al Dhaheri, known for his 62-kilometer swim around Abu Dhabi island last year, which also promoted environmental consciousness. Starting November 2, the trek begins at Al Sila’a and finishes at the Zayed Heritage Festival in Al Wathba, aligning with UAE National Day.
The athletes’ journey will pass through Abu Dhabi’s historic sites and natural reserves, including Umm Hosn Fort, Jebel Hafeet tombs, Al Ain Oasis, and Hili Archaeological Park, as well as prehistoric elephant footprints. In addition to promoting environmental awareness, the event encourages residents to adopt a healthier, more active lifestyle.
Wildlife expert and filmmaker Al Mazrouei is particularly excited about the chance to spot the elusive sand cat. “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 participants come from various fitness backgrounds, including veteran marathoners, mountaineers, and artist Tarek Ahmad, who had not consistently pursued sports since his school years. Ahmad, an engineer, actor, musician, and opera singer, was initially surprised when nominated, saying, “When they explained the challenge to me, I said, ‘how can we walk that long in the desert?’” However, he embraced the rigorous training program focused on physical and mental endurance and nutrition. He plans to keep fellow participants entertained with games along the journey.
Faisal Al Ketbi, jiu-jitsu world champion, highlighted the mental endurance required for the mission, noting, “Normally a jiu-jitsu fight lasts for up to six minutes…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.” Al Ketbi, eager to explore the natural beauty of Abu Dhabi, said, “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.”
Organized by Active Abu Dhabi in partnership with Pure Health and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Walk1000 encourages public participation through the PURA app, which offers a virtual 1,000-step daily challenge. The walk’s activities will be streamed across Active Abu Dhabi’s social media channels. Pure Health aims to set a world record by gathering the most participants to walk 2 kilometers within a 24-hour period.
