Abu Dhabi's Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), working with the Department of Community Development, has launched the fifth edition of its annual sports and physical activity survey for 2026. Officials say the goal is to build a clearer picture of residents' exercise habits and use the findings to guide infrastructure planning across the emirate.
The survey covers every age group, from school pupils and young people to adults and senior citizens. For students, questions focus on play, sport, walking to school, PE classes, running, cycling and football. For other age groups, it also looks at physical activity carried out at work, household tasks such as cleaning and gardening, and recreational activities outside the home.
Among the main metrics being tracked are the number of days residents spend at least 60 minutes on physical activity, how often they exercise each month, weekly training duration, and intensity levels — light, moderate or vigorous. The survey also measures sedentary time and screen usage, alongside how much residents spend each month on sports equipment, gym memberships or training classes.
Officials behind the initiative say the results feed directly into planning decisions around parks, green spaces, recreational facilities, and walking, running and cycling tracks across Abu Dhabi — particularly in the design of new residential developments, so that sports and activity spaces sit closer to where people actually live.
The survey is part of Abu Dhabi's wider push to promote healthier lifestyles and improve quality of life for both citizens and residents, building on previous efforts by the emirate to expand safe, accessible public spaces for exercise and community activity.