Before stores open and shoppers arrive, many residents in Qatar are filling malls early in the morning to join fitness activities, adapting their routines to the country’s rising temperatures.
With public health guidance advising against prolonged outdoor physical activity during peak daytime heat, some fitness communities have moved indoors to air-conditioned public spaces to maintain consistency.
One example is a social running club led by Jorge Cota, which has moved its weekly sessions indoors at Doha Festival City during the summer. Instead of pausing activities altogether, members now trace the mall’s layout with their footsteps, completing multiple laps around the corridors.
“In my previous experiences with run clubs, they don’t run during the summer because it’s impossible to run with this heat,” Cota told Gulf Times. “At least here, we have the possibility to keep running, but inside the mall.”
He added that malls have become the most practical option among the alternatives the club considered, such as air-conditioned parks in Doha. Limited operating hours made those less suitable for early-morning runs, so the club ultimately opted for a space that could offer continuous air conditioning and predictable loops.
For Cota, preserving the social aspect of the club is just as important as the exercise itself. “We are focusing on the fun part of the run,” he said, explaining that participants are made to gather at cafés after every session to meet and catch up with one another.
Among residents adapting their fitness habits during the summer months is Zaara Shaheer Khan, who said she values the opportunity to meet new people through indoor fitness activities.
A regular participant in indoor fitness sessions, she said their appeal also lies in how the environment shapes her experience of exercising in the heat.
“Outdoors is absolutely a battle in this weather,” Khan said. “Being indoors really helps to focus on mindset and form without worrying about burning or sweating.”
Exercising in a shopping destination also adds to the appeal of the experience afterwards, she said, noting that grabbing a meal or shopping often becomes “too easy or alluring after the activity”.
Khan acknowledged that while indoor fitness sessions cannot be a daily occurrence due to travel times and scheduling, they offer a flexible alternative that allows residents to remain active in a city where heat can hinder outdoor activity.
