Thousands of residents across the UAE marked International Yoga Day on Sunday, gathering for mass yoga sessions that transformed community venues into hubs of wellness and cultural exchange.
In Dubai, the Consulate General of India organised a yoga session at the Dubai Police Officers’ Club in association with Dubai Police. More than 1500 people of different ages took part – families, schoolchildren, seasoned practitioners and wellness enthusiasts – joining in breathing exercises, stretching routines and guided relaxation sessions. The event also featured a special performance by the Dubai Police Band.This year’s International Yoga Day carried the theme “Yoga for Healthy Ageing.”
Consul General Satish Kumar Sivan praised the strong turnout and extended his gratitude to Dubai Police for their support, calling the event a demonstration of the deep ties between the Indian community and the UAE. “Many Indians who live here actually call the UAE their first home and India their second home,” he said. “The kind of support we have received from the people, the leadership – and especially Dubai Police – demonstrates why that is so.”
Consul general also applauded the large number of students who attended from schools across Dubai and Sharjah, noting that children had arrived at the venue even before the event officially began.
Major General Mohammed Essa Al-Adhab, Director of the General Department of Logistic Support at Dubai Police, said the scale of participation sent a clear message about yoga’s growing appeal in the country.Reflecting on the longstanding relationship between the two nations, he recalled growing up in Dubai’s Meena Bazaar district – long associated with the Indian community – and witnessing their contribution to the city’s development.
“We have seen from the beginning how the Indian society has been built in Dubai and in the UAE, and has grown as Dubai and the UAE grew,” he said. “One of the most important contributions will be from Indians.”
In Abu Dhabi, the celebrations took on a distinctive setting – around a thousand yoga enthusiasts and members of the diplomatic corps gathered under the iconic dome of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, organsed by the Embassy of India ,for a serene session marking the day. The event embraced this year’s theme of Yoga for Healthy Ageing, bringing together participants from across the diplomatic and wider community in one of the emirate’s most recognisable cultural landmarks.
Significant community activities are taking place throughout the day, including “Stronger for Longer” classes at Dubai Sports World in the Dubai World Trade Centre and a free two-hour mixed-level practice at Al Ghurair Centre hosted by METROFITT. Additional wellness hubs include the Al Manara Indoor Sports Hall, Times Square Center, and Dubai Marina Mall, while the evening will feature immersive sound healing at The Sustainable City and a grand “YOGA FIRST” event at W Dubai – The Palm.
