There is something very Dubai about believing that if something matters, it must be intense. If it is fitness — it is a marathon. If it is wellness — it is a retreat in Bali. If it is self-improvement — it is a 5 am routine with ice baths and supplements lined up like soldiers. We have trained ourselves to believe that meaningful change requires dramatic effort.

And yet, according to the latest ASICS State of Mind Study 2025, one of the most powerful tools for improving how we feel is painfully simple: move your body.

This study, which collates responses from thousands of people worldwide including residents of the UAE, suggests that the mental uplift associated with movement is neither abstract nor conditional on intensity. Its most counterintuitive insight — that roughly 15 minutes and 9 seconds of movement is enough to begin feeling mental benefits — is a revelation in a culture obsessed with extremes.

In the 2025 ASICS State of Mind Index, the UAE’s overall score sits at 68 out of 100, placing it 4th out of the 16 global markets surveyed. That number, standing alone, feels abstract — until you put it beside broader patterns:

Across the world, countries with higher average physical activity tend to have correspondingly higher State of Mind scores. China (77), India (74), and Thailand (74) lead the ranking — with active populations and high wellbeing markers — while countries like Japan (51) and Italy (57) pull the average down where activity levels lag.

The UAE’s relative strength isn’t accidental. People in the UAE report an average of 180 minutes of physical activity per week, which is itself above the global average of roughly 150 minutes for active populations. This consistent weekly movement translates not only to physical fitness but to psychological stability — a tangible reflection of how behaviour and internal experience align.

Walking — the most prevalent form of activity — sits at the centre of this behavioural map. It is no coincidence that a country where walking, jogging, and casual outdoor sport remain common reports one of the higher State of Mind scores globally. This finding should shift our assumptions. It suggests that movement doesn’t need to be performance oriented to affect the brain.

One of the most provocative revelations of the 2025 report is the disparity between what people think they need to feel better and what the science actually shows.

When asked how much exercise is required to trigger a mood uplift, most respondents estimate 30 minutes or more. But the ASICS research indicates that the mental benefits begin in as little as 15 minutes and 9 seconds of movement.

That figure matters for two reasons:

What is particularly interesting in the UAE data is how the gender comparison plays out.

Globally, the State of Mind Study consistently shows that men and women report different activity levels, with women often lagging behind in weekly activity totals. In the UAE, women on average move about 30 minutes less per week than men. Still, despite this gap in movement, women and men have equivalent State of Mind scores in the UAE.

This equality isn't just a statistical curiosity; it suggests that movement impacts psychological wellbeing with similar intensity across genders. It also highlights the potential value of intentional movement initiatives for women — because the downstream mental benefit doesn’t discriminate.

In practical terms, this could mean developing urban environments and social structures where movement is easier, more integrated into daily life, and more equitably supported across gender lines.

Within the UAE itself, the study identifies Dubai as the city with the highest State of Mind score. This detail makes sense when viewed through the lens of infrastructure and lifestyle design: Dubai’s relatively walkable districts, recreational spaces, and community sport culture offer more opportunities to integrate movement into daily life.

It also aligns with a deeper psychological pattern supported by behavioural science: activity functions as emotional regulation.

When we move, the body modulates stress hormones and enhances neurotransmitter activity. These physiological changes do not require high intensity, but they require regular engagement. In other words, consistent movement — not heroic efforts — is what knits stability into our brain chemistry.

The 2025 data mirrors broader global trends highlighted in previous iterations of the State of Mind Study. For example, research associated with the 2024 report found that sedentary behaviour (e.g., sitting for 9–10 hours) was linked to lower mental wellbeing, while adding brief movement breaks significantly improved relaxation and focus markers.

That earlier research — involving desk-based participants across multiple markets — complements the 2025 perspective: not only does movement uplift mood, but lack of movement is actively detrimental.

Regrettably, prolonged physical inactivity is also correlated with generational trends: older generations were generally more active and reported higher mental wellbeing, while younger cohorts reported lower activity and lower mental wellbeing scores.

This ongoing generational divergence isn't just a lifestyle pattern; it is a structural one. Younger people today are more digitally oriented and physically sedentary — a fact that appears to correlate with global declines in key emotional traits.

This study does more than score countries numerically. It offers a model of psychological causality:

Across dozens of surveys, people who are physically active not only feel calmer and more confident, they report greater resilience when faced with stress. Active people tend to interpret challenges with less emotional reactivity.