The Catalytic Impact of Physical Fitness on UAE's Economy

This essay investigates the catalytic impact of physical fitness on economic growth within the United Arab Emirates. It highlights the UAE's economic diversification and the importance of a healthy workforce. The essay explores the benefits of employee fitness, including improved health outco...Read More

Running head: FITNESS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
Fitness and Economic Growth

FITNESS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 1
“Catalytic impact of Physical fitness of the work force and economic growth in UAE”
Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, is the Economy Minister of UAE believed that the country is in
progress of gaining the benefits of its policy of economy diversification. This policy helped the
country to move from the dependency on one sector i.e. oil sector to depending on various
sectors. From last few years the economy of the nation is growing positively. The economy now
is determined through its own aspects, whereas its efficiency basis is durable, strong and
diversified (Khaleej Times. 2015).
Physical fitness of the work force in UAE is an opportunity such as it helps in managing the
lifestyle of the employee as hectic schedule do not allow him to invest time in the gym so work
place is the best place to adopt the healthy habits. On the other side to maintain the physical
fitness of the older workers is a challenge. Family members, shareholders, community,
employees and whole society is affected directly or indirectly by the workforce physical fitness
level (Pronk, 2015). Physical fitness has relations with the positive health results, with declining
risk for unnecessary deaths and long-lasting circumstances such as type 2 diabetes, back pain,
cancers, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, as well as less health maintenance expenditure,
efficiency loss, absence, temporary disability, and lost workdays and improved mood and
performance of the work (Sport and Dev. 2017).
Fitness is also related with non-health related aids, such as increase in the income of the person
as well as his/her family, decreased debt, decrease in the number of unemployment, decrease
turnover rate, satisfaction of the job and enrollment and workers retention. Security of the nation
is enhanced due to fitness of the particular occupational groups such as law enforcement,
firefighters and military as safety is a societal benefit (Health Galaxy. 2016). The workers will be
more active due to full-time employment. Full-time employment amongst men, was completely
related with physical movement stages irrespective of being in a sitting or desk job as compared
to persons who did not work. Among women, though, persons in sitting full-time jobs were
considerably less active compared to their nonworking colleagues. However, women with active
jobs were approximately 30% extra active throughout the week compared to those with sitting
jobs and similarly approx. 22% of men were noted (Pronk, 2015).

FITNESS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 2
Company is benefited due to the fitness of its workforce in the matter of its business performance
and people’s health. This benefit indicates towards the better economic wealth for an
progressively group of people and adds to the mutual resource pool, allowing groups to
participate more in other macro societal factors of health such as governance, infrastructure,
education, mass media, culture, migration, etc. – several of these are serious for the success of a
business and all of them are critical for health (Drevits, 2015). Such investments generate good
jobs, rise housing worth and upkeep global, national and local competitiveness. Therefore,
fitness of the workforce is very important for their companies, family, communities and to
themselves and hence to be taken as a corporate asset to be concurrently sheltered and
encouraged.
Health services of UAE
Several emerging countries are struggling against hunger and poor health. Spending on health
has been considered as investment in human wealth. Economic development and health has a
reciprocal relation (Frenk, 2017). To improve the health of the people Economic development
policies are very important. Good health donates to development of economy. Good health is
considered to be a basic need of human and is an important goal. The potential of human
increases with the good health and improves the quality of work. Therefore, programs of health
main aim is to eliminate illness and death and to deliver sufficient hygiene, health care and
nutrition.
According to the estimations approx. 99 percent of the UAE population had access to use the
health facilities, approx. 95 percent had approached to safe water and hygiene facilities are
accessed by 77 percent of the population (Shihab, 2017). The aim of health policies of UAE
Government is to provide different facilities and at program’s implementing is aimed at
progressing the service level and providing the education of health in UAE. They have initiated
precautionary medical programs like ‘mother and child health care’, vaccination and
immunizations for children, observing and noticing of infectious diseases, and health informative
programs. In addition, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of UAE offers medical centres for school
going children, to all the units of health for children in every school throughout the UAE.
Qualified nurses with equipment’s of first aid are also provided by these units. According to the

FITNESS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 3
population of UAE doctors, hospitals, nurses and beds are available throughout the UAE.
Generally, in UAE health facilities are distributed evenly (Abed & Hellyer, 2001).
Companies of UAE are working towards creating an environment of happier and healthier
through different social and sports activities. The Ras Al Khaimah which is a free trade zone has
launched a program of wellness and fitness for its 370 employees, providing different workshops
for volleyball and yoga with healthy breakfast (Swan, 2012). According to the deputy director
general Maryam Al Murshedi Al Shehhi, people are their main asset. Business cannot be
maintained without a happy and healthy staff, otherwise they will be considered as a machine. A
good product cannot be produced without a good machine. Even, the doctors’ week was offered
by the company to its staff where they learnt about prevention from diseases, skincare and
cosmetic treatments. Afterward, smoking cessation and weight loss campaigns will be held and
daily health food will be offered that will include cereal, yogurt and fruit. Further, Simple
changes were asked from the employees like drinking water. Normally, people do not drink
enough water which is required when they sit in an office, but this habit does not only effect the
health of the people but their morale too.
The UAE is counted in one of the wealthy country, it is because of its resources of oil and its
population base. The above essay proves that the fitness of the workforce and the growth of the
economy are related. If workforce will not be fit then they will not give their best in the work and
will definitely affect the profit of business and overall the economy of the UAE country.
Eventually, if people will be fit it will not only benefit the economy of UAE but also the family
of the individual.

FITNESS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 4
References
Abed, I & Hellyer, P. (2001). United Arab Emirates: A New Perspective. Trident Press Ltd.
Drevits, T. (2015). The Five Benefits of Workplace Fitness Culture. Retrieved from:
http://www.corporatewellnessmagazine.com/worksite-wellness/five-benefits-workplace-
fitness-culture/
Frenk, J. (2017). Health and the economy: A vital relationship. Retrieved from:
http://oecdobserver.org/news/archivestory.php/aid/1241/Health_and_the_economy:_A_vi
tal_relationship_.html
Health Galaxy. (2016). Benefits of physical fitness. Retrieved from: http://www.health-
galaxy.com/benefits-of-physical-fitness.html
Khaleej Times. (2015). UAE economy is strong, sustainable: Al Mansoori. Retrieved from:
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/government/uae-economy-is-strong-sustainable-al-
mansoori
Pronk, N.P. (2015). Why does fitness matter? Retrieved from:
http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031914-122714
Shihab, M. (2017). Economic Development in the UAE. Retrieved from:
https://www.uaeinteract.com/uaeint_misc/pdf/perspectives/12.pdf
Sport and Dev. (2017). Sport, physical activity and risk factors for major diseases. Retrieved
from: https://www.sportanddev.org/en/learn-more/health/sport-physical-activity-and-risk-
factors-major-diseases-0
Swan, M. (2012). UAE companies work towards happy, healthy workforce. Retrieved from:
https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/wellbeing/uae-companies-work-towards-happy-
healthy-workforce-1.386887