5 MINI TEAM-BUILDING ACTIVITIES YOU CAN RUN DURING LUNCH

In the fast-paced work environment of cities like Dubai, Riyadh, and Doha, it’s not always easy to carve out time for full-scale team-building retreats. But even 30–40 minutes during lunch can turn into a powerful moment of connection, energy, and culture-building — if you use the right format

Here are 5 quick and engaging activities that work perfectly for hybrid, multicultural teams in the UAE and the wider Gulf region

1. Secret Notes: Light Interaction with a Twist

What it is:

Each team member gets a secret mission on a small card: compliment a colleague, tell a funny story, or sneak in a movie quote — all without revealing the task

Why it works here:

It’s subtle, fun, and easy to implement in diverse teams where open physical interaction might not be comfortable for everyone

Where to do it:

Breakout rooms, lunch areas, open office zones — or even virtually via Slack or email

2. Wordless Artists: Draw It, Act It, Explain Without Words

What it is:

Teams receive cards with common work-related terms ("deadline", "Friday", "team lunch") and must describe them using only gestures or drawings

Why it's effective:

It levels the playing field for teams where not everyone is fluent in English and brings out creative, funny solutions

Perfect for:

Hybrid teams, multicultural offices, or onboarding new employees

3. Story by Circle: Creative Fun With a Dash of Chaos

What it is:

One team member begins a story: “Once upon a time, something strange appeared in our office…” and each person adds a sentence in turn

What happens:

A wild, often hilarious story emerges — full of inside jokes and unexpected twists

Why it works:

It encourages listening, improvisation, and shared laughter — the best shortcut to team bonding

Bonus idea:

Record it as a podcast or voice note and share in the internal team channel!

4. Guess Who: Discover the Unexpected in Your Team

What it is:

Each person shares two truths and one lie about themselves. Others guess which one is false

Why it's ideal for GCC companies:

In multinational teams, people often know just names and job titles. This game reveals personality, humor, and life stories

Where to run it:

At the lunch table, in Zoom breakout rooms, or asynchronously via Google Forms or Teams

5. Light Challenge: A Quick Burst of Energy

What it is:

Fun, fast-paced physical or logic challenges: build a paper tower, solve a riddle, cross a room without touching the floor, etc

Why it’s needed:

After lunch, energy naturally dips — this is a quick, engaging way to bring the team back to focus

Adaptable to:

All office layouts. Can be played seated or standing. No sweating required

How to Make It a Habit

• Set a weekly ritual: "Team Tuesday", "Wellness Wednesday", or any catchy slot.

• Assign a "Team-Building Ambassador" to coordinate activities.

• Add it as a recurring calendar event — just like any important meeting.

Let Us Run It For You

At Wellness4you, we deliver mini team-building sessions in any format you need: in-person, remote, in-office, hybrid — in English or Arabic. We tailor each activity to your team's culture, size, and goals — from light entertainment to strategic team bonding

Want to try it with your team? Fill out our quick form and get a custom list of lunch-time ideas