Dani Afiouni has been an endurance athlete for 15 years. Photo: Dani Afiouni
Dani Afiouni has been an endurance athlete for 15 years. Photo: Dani Afiouni
Dani Afiouni has been an endurance athlete for 15 years. Photo: Dani Afiouni
Dani Afiouni has been an endurance athlete for 15 years. Photo: Dani Afiouni

Meet the Lebanese athlete running across the UAE this summer


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When Dubai resident Dani Afiouni couldn't fulfil his dreams of being a pilot, he learnt how to skydive instead. When being in the special forces didn't work out, he trained to become an endurance athlete. And the pivot to extreme sports, he tells The National, is one of the best decisions he's ever made.

The penchant for adrenalin is a family thing, says the Lebanese wellness entrepreneur. “I come from a family of military people,” says Afiouni, who eventually also took on a corporate job. “But I committed myself from a passion perspective, to both fly in terms of skydiving, as well as be adventurous by becoming an endurance athlete and expedition explorer.

“The first mountain I climbed was in Africa, and then I started climbing around the world,” he says, adding there's something “addictive” about the rush he feels.

Afiouni has climbed six of the highest mountains in the world. He has also participated in dozens of other endurance challenges, including the World Marathon Challenge in 2015. That involves running seven marathons in seven days across all seven continents. The following year, he joined the North Pole marathon, running over hard snow and frozen ice in the Arctic Ocean.

The Lebanese athlete ran the North Pole marathon in 2016. Photo: Dani Afiouni
The Lebanese athlete ran the North Pole marathon in 2016. Photo: Dani Afiouni

He has run in the Himalayas and the Amazon forest, too – so Afiouni's upcoming feat, a 153km desert run from Jebel Jais mountain in Ras Al Khaimah to Al Qudra in Dubai should be a walk in the park, albeit a rather hot one as the temperature inches towards the late 30s.

While the physical rewards of such activities are immediately apparent – he says he's stronger in his 40s than he's ever been – Afiouni's biggest takeaway is more abstract.

“When you get to spend so much time with yourself, you get to reflect on life and that brings about a lot of self-discoveries,” he says. “It brings about this culture of achievement, hard work and compassion.

“When you go around nature, you really feel a sense of humility and realise your place in life and nature. This has given me a lot of perspective. And it's given me a lot of compassion towards myself and others.”

Most of Afiouni's endurance challenges are tied to a cause, such as raising funds for a cancer advocacy group or championing awareness about other illnesses. The run on Sunday will benefit the Emirates Society of Child Mental Health, which is dedicated to advancing clinical services, research and education to child and adolescent mental well-being in the UAE.

Afiouni is also inviting people to join him at any point during the run, which he estimates will last about four days. For each participant, his company Longevity Hub will donate Dh100 to the organisation.

Asked why he chose children's mental health as the focus of his next marathon, Afiouni says: “My wife and I are expecting a baby girl very soon and I've always taken a lot of passion in wanting to be fully integrated with my children's lives.

“It hurts to see that a lot of children today are either bullied or not properly cared for when it comes to their mental well-being at a very young age.”

How to prepare for endurance challenges

Afiouni has fully transitioned from his corporate job to being a full-time wellness entrepreneur for Longevity Hub, a clinic that offers high-tech well-being solutions such as red light therapy rooms, a hyperbaric chamber and ice bath pods.

He understands that a hyper-active lifestyle requires a lot of physical strength, especially when embarking on endurance challenges in extreme conditions, such as the upcoming Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai run.

“The body requires a lot of preparation. When you say hard work in this context, it's not only about being persistent and resilient,” he says. “It's also about properly preparing your body so that you can go and do things the right way, and you're not cutting corners.”

Situational awareness

Before the actual physical training starts, Afiouni says researching the course is key.

“You need to put yourself in the mindset of knowing exactly the stages, the terrain and the environment you're running in. You need to be curious about the temperatures and the environmental conditions. Navigation is very important.”

He adds that more often that not, endurance challenges are not done in a straight line and “that's where the challenge is when it comes to the terrain and navigation”.

In cases of extreme heat, Afiouni says the body needs to acclimatise, so planning nutrition and replenishment is crucial.

The map of the upcoming run from Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai. Photo: Dani Afiouni
The map of the upcoming run from Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai. Photo: Dani Afiouni

“As long as the body replenishes, even if you are in a heated environment, you can still function,” he explains. Other practical things help too, such as knowing how to breathe properly.

“In cases of endurance challenges that run through days, you have to research about daytime and night-time strategies and plot them smartly,” adds Afiouni.

For his upcoming challenge, he has chosen full moon days and nights. He says he'll rest when the sun is highest in the sky, but run at a faster pace with the moon is out.

“The more you research, the more you are able to do simulations on different scenarios,” he says.

Physical conditioning

Once there is good knowledge of the course, Afiouni says the next thing to do is to tailor a physical training routine accordingly.

“Today I'm running on uneven surfaces, for example. Or I'll do some climbing or running on deep sand. I need to make sure that my lower body can accept all the wear and tear.”

Although physical endurance will be different for each athlete, Afiouni says he trains every day. “Five of these days, I go explosive, meaning high-intensity training as well as isometric exercises and functional training for my lower and upper body,” he says.

Endurance challenges are both mentally and physically taxing, says Afiouni. Photo: Dani Afiouni
Endurance challenges are both mentally and physically taxing, says Afiouni. Photo: Dani Afiouni

One day is dedicated to Pilates and yoga, and the last involves running a long distance, between 20km to 25km on a technical environment like sand, says Afiouni.

For those specifically training for a marathon, Afiouni says: “You actually need to do a long distance run during your preparation and build up your distance gradually. You have to do the distance up to as much as 40 kilometres.”

'Mind over mountain'

While physical training is paramount in endurance challenges, Afiouni says training the mind actually takes precedence. “It's 60 per cent a mind game, 40 per cent a physical game,” he quips.

“The body will do what the mind decides. If you programme your mind to break the challenge into small pieces and then go through the journey from a technical perspective, your body will follow.”

After an intense marathon of expedition, the first thing Afiouni does to cool down is sound meditation inside a hyperbaric chamber, where the air pressure is two to three times higher than normal and so helps the lungs gather more oxygen.

“Basically I'm going to be breathing pure oxygen to help with my recovery and my inflammations,” he explains. He also does light meditation as well as acupuncture and deep tissue therapy.

Afiouni says it's also important to still maintain physical training but on a low threshold until he can return to his normal levels. Another crucial recovery element is food, he adds. “I'm going to eat the food that I missed during the run.”

The Dubai athlete says he would wait for at least three months before doing another intense endurance challenge. “I need to preserve my body, to treat it mechanically and professionally, so that I can keep doing this even in my 70s.”

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Company%C2%A0profile
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Sarfira

Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal 

Rating: 2/5

STAY%2C%20DAUGHTER
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Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Stage result

1. Pascal Ackermann (GER) Bora-Hansgrohe, in 3:29.09

2. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto-Soudal

3. Rudy Barbier (FRA) Israel Start-Up Nation

4. Dylan Groenewegen (NED) Jumbo-Visma

5. Luka Mezgec (SLO) Mitchelton-Scott

6. Alberto Dainese (ITA) Sunweb

7. Jakub Mareczko (ITA) CCC

8. Max Walscheid (GER) NTT

9. José Rojas (ESP) Movistar

10. Andrea Vendrame (ITA) Ag2r La Mondiale, all at same time

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

Nepotism is the name of the game

Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad. 

How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
  • Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
  • Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
  • Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
  • Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Score

Third Test, Day 2

New Zealand 274
Pakistan 139-3 (61 ov)

Pakistan trail by 135 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the innings

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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

MATCH INFO

England 241-3 (20 ovs)

Malan 130 no, Morgan 91

New Zealand 165 all out (16.5ovs)

Southee 39, Parkinson 4-47

England win by 76 runs

Series level at 2-2

Fixtures and results:

Wed, Aug 29:

  • Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
  • Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
  • UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs

Thu, Aug 30: UAE v Nepal; Hong Kong v Singapore; Malaysia v Oman

Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal

Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore

Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu, Sep 6: Final

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Squid Game season two

Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk 

Stars:  Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun

Rating: 4.5/5

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

Astroworld
Travis Scott
Grand Hustle/Epic/Cactus Jack

AUSTRALIA SQUAD

Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle

A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
  • 2018: Formal work begins
  • November 2021: First 17 volumes launched 
  • November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
  • October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
  • November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
if you go
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 258hp from 5,000-6,500rpm

Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,000rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.1L/100km

Price: from Dh362,500

On sale: now

Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
  1. Steve Baker
  2. Peter Bone
  3. Ben Bradley
  4. Andrew Bridgen
  5. Maria Caulfield​​​​​​​
  6. Simon Clarke 
  7. Philip Davies
  8. Nadine Dorries​​​​​​​
  9. James Duddridge​​​​​​​
  10. Mark Francois 
  11. Chris Green
  12. Adam Holloway
  13. Andrea Jenkyns
  14. Anne-Marie Morris
  15. Sheryll Murray
  16. Jacob Rees-Mogg
  17. Laurence Robertson
  18. Lee Rowley
  19. Henry Smith
  20. Martin Vickers 
  21. John Whittingdale
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Abu Dhabi GP weekend schedule

Friday

First practice, 1pm 
Second practice, 5pm

Saturday

Final practice, 2pm
Qualifying, 5pm

Sunday

Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps), 5.10pm

The%20specs
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The specs: 2019 BMW X4

Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800

Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km

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BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES

SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities

Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails

Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies

Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments

Updated: May 25, 2024, 3:55 AM`