CASE STUDY
From one swim to an emirate-wide movement.
Active Abu Dhabi · Swim62 · Row400 · Walk1000
AT A GLANCE
Abu Dhabi, December 2022 – January 2025
Swim62: Project and Performance Manager
Row400: Programme and Performance Manager
Active Abu Dhabi and Walk1000: Project and Performance Director
THE CHALLENGE
Each mission was a first. Each one earned the trust to attempt something bigger: a swim around Abu Dhabi island, a row along its coast, then a year-long community health campaign ending in a thousand-kilometre walk across the emirate. All of it delivered in public, against fixed dates, with the whole country watching.
MARCH 2023
Swim62
The first attempt to swim around the island of Abu Dhabi.
- 62 km in 33 hours 58 minutes, with more than 50 swimmers taking part
- More than ten major stakeholders, with sponsors including ADNOC, Etihad and G42
- A live position-tracking platform built with Bayanat
- A Guinness World Record for the largest water safety lesson, with 336 participants
- A documentary, released in cinemas in November 2023 and now streaming on the ADTV app and STARZPLAY
NOVEMBER 2023
Row400
The first attempt to row 400 km along the coast of Abu Dhabi.
- 413.4 km in 225 hours 46 minutes, with overnight stops on nine islands
- A team of 14: rowing coaches, physiotherapists, nutrition, project management and media
- A full performance programme for the athletes, six preparation missions and a community row with 120 participants
- Partners including Al Fahim, PureHealth, Etihad, Yas Island and Aldar
2024
Active Abu Dhabi and Walk1000
An emirate-wide healthy living campaign: more than 190 community events and over 10,000 students engaged in 2024.
- Walk1000: ten athletes walking 1,000 km in 30 days through the Abu Dhabi desert, supported by a performance programme covering strength, endurance, expedition skills, psychology, nutrition and hydration
- A Guinness World Record with PureHealth: 3,870 people completing a remote 1 km in 24 hours
- A documentary following the walk through more than 30 sites of cultural significance
