Doha: Shopping malls across Qatar are playing an increasingly important role in promoting physical activity by hosting the “5,000 Steps Mall Walking Challenge”, one of the flagship initiatives of the Summer Sports for All 2026 program organized by the Qatar Sports for All Federation (QSFA) in partnership with the Ministry of Sports and Youth.

The initiative encourages community members to stay active by walking indoors during the summer months, when high temperatures make outdoor exercise more difficult. By providing a safe, air-conditioned environment, shopping malls have become an ideal setting for maintaining fitness and adopting healthier lifestyles.

The walking challenge is currently taking place in approximately 12 shopping malls across Qatar and will continue throughout the summer. Doha Festival City records strong daily participation from men, women, youth, children, and senior citizens. The programme has also expanded to several other malls, including Qatar Mall, where participants complete the challenge along the indoor walkways. Other participating locations include Al Hazm Mall, Hyatt Plaza, Tawar Mall, Abu Sidra Mall, Lagoona Mall, Place Vendôme Mall, Ezdan Mall Al Wakrah, Al Khor Mall, Mirqab Mall, and Villaggio Mall. Participants can track their progress by activating the step-counting feature through the official Sports for All mobile application.

The initiative has attracted significant interest from regular mall visitors and registered participants alike, many of whom have expressed their appreciation for a programme that motivates them to maintain a consistent walking routine regardless of the season.

Mr. Abdullah Al Dosari, Executive Director of the Qatar Sports for All Federation, said the 5,000 Steps Mall Walking Challenge continues to attract growing numbers of participants from all age groups, reflecting increasing public awareness of the importance of walking as part of a healthy lifestyle. He explained that the challenge will continue throughout the summer across participating malls, with each venue offering different accompanying activities to enrich the participants’ experience and encourage even greater community involvement.

Al Dosari added that seeing families exercising together represents the ultimate objective of the initiative. He noted that achieving 5,000 steps per day is an excellent target for maintaining fitness and supporting overall health. He concluded by emphasizing that the Step Challenge has evolved beyond a sporting activity into an inspiring community initiative that promotes physical activity and encourages families to embrace healthier, more active lifestyles.