Emirates Balanced Development Council Launches “Steps and Memories (50×50)” Initiative in Masfout

The Emirates Council for Balanced Development has launched the “Steps and Memories (50×50)” initiative in the Masfout area of the Emirate of Ajman, within the framework of its efforts to promote healthy lifestyles and consolidate quality of life concepts in UAE villages, in alignment with the country’s directions towards building a healthier, more cohesive and sustainable society.

The launch was attended by His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sport, and His Excellency Mohammed Khalifa Al Kaabi, Secretary-General of the Emirates Council for Balanced Development, alongside a number of officials and local residents, in an affirmation reflecting the commitment to supporting initiatives that promote public health.

The initiative aims to encourage community members, particularly senior citizens, to adopt active lifestyles as a daily practice, through a community experience that strengthens the spirit of cohesion and positive interaction among community members, underscoring the importance of such qualitative initiatives in generating a sustainable impact on public health and quality of life.

The initiative brought together participants from the 50+ age group in a community walk covering a distance of 1.5 kilometres, departing from in front of Masfout Museum through the area’s distinctive natural trails, in a scene reflecting community solidarity and embodying the integration of efforts aimed at promoting a culture of physical activity in local environments.

This initiative comes as a continuation of the Council’s efforts to enhance the sustainability of community impact, which were recently crowned by the signing of a cooperation agreement with “Abu Dhabi Masters Games 2026”, with the aim of developing a comprehensive, measurable and sustainable community system for physical activity with broad community participation, in alignment with national priorities in the fields of health and quality of life, and contributing to supporting the transition towards healthier and more active communities in UAE villages and regions.

The geographical character of Masfout, with its abundant mountainous terrain and open trails, provided a suitable environment for outdoor activities, strengthening the connection between people and their natural surroundings.

The initiative forms part of the system of initiatives implemented by the Council with the aim of empowering local communities, enhancing quality of life, and consolidating the concept of health as a sustainable way of life, supporting the country’s targets in building active and healthy communities, and reflecting the role of villages as a fundamental pillar in achieving balanced development across economic, social, cultural and tourism dimensions.

The initiative also contributes to highlighting the natural and tourism assets of the Masfout area and enhancing its standing as a distinguished destination for community and sporting activities, within an integrated vision linking health, tourism and community development. The initiative affirms the importance of complementary roles between entities and institutions in supporting qualitative initiatives that contribute to improving quality of life and enhancing the sustainability of local communities across various regions of the country.