A 31-year-old Dubai resident won the Ras Al Khaimah Weight Loss Challenge 2025 after losing 45.7kg. Amrith Raj, originally from India, received Dh13,800 for his achievement. Another Dubai resident, Pakistani expat Spina Ghatai Mohammed Yaqoob, won the women’s category after shedding 25kg.
This year’s challenge attracted a record 24,289 participants from across the UAE, the highest since the competition began. Nearly half the participants were from Ras Al Khaimah, showing strong local support for health and wellness.
Raj shared his journey, saying he weighed over 225kg earlier this year. He credited his family, especially his wife, for helping him stay motivated. “I’ve always been the fat kid. This journey was for my wife who stood by me when I was overweight,” he said. Working in the food industry made weight loss harder since he was constantly around food. Still, he stayed focused, saying, “Weight loss is all about mindset and focus.”
Even after losing so much weight, Raj said his journey is not over. He remains in the obese category but plans to join the challenge again next year to improve further.
In the women’s category, Yaqoob said the challenge gave her new motivation. “Before this, I was just sitting and eating,” she said. Her brother challenged her to lose 25kg with the promise of a gift. She accepted and surprised herself by winning. She lost weight through a mix of clean eating, intermittent fasting, one meal a day, and water fasting. Giving up treats like ice cream was tough, but her son encouraged her to keep going.
Yaqoob also noted health benefits beyond weight loss. She no longer has knee pain and avoided needing medication for cholesterol and sugar.
Another inspiring story came from Niyaz Hamza Parappalath and his family, who joined the challenge together. They supported each other through a WhatsApp group, sharing daily updates and motivation.
The RAK Biggest Weight Loss Challenge, now in its fifth year, is organized by RAK Hospital in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention. The recent awards ceremony was attended by officials and healthcare leaders.
The event drew participants from individuals to corporate teams and schools. With a nearly equal split between men and women, the challenge continues to promote community health across the UAE.
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