Dubai Holding to Offer US $1 Million Prize Bonus for New World Record at the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon

Dubai Holding Has Been a Supporter of the Marathon for Three Consecutive Years

Dubai: 20 January, 2010 – Dubai Holding, one of the Middle East’s largest conglomerates, has announced that it will be offering a bonus payout of US$1 million to the athlete who sets a new world marathon record at the 2010 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon.

Scheduled to be held on 22 January, the Dubai Marathon comprises three events open to the public – the 42.2km marathon, the 10km road race and the 3km fun run.

Dubai Holding’s top executives will once again lead the group’s employees at the annual event.  Last year, ‘Team Dubai Holding’ had the largest among all corporate participants.  This year’s participation from Dubai Holding is expected to surpass last year’s figure of 1200 employees.

The participation in the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon 2010 comes as part of Dubai Holding’s Corporate Wellness Programme, one of the first initiatives of its kind in the region.

Dubai Holding Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Bin Byat and heads of group companies, have pledged their full support to the initiative, with many of them leading by example by signing up as participants in the Dubai Marathon 2010.

Bin Byat said:

This marks the third consecutive year that we have supported the Dubai Marathon, and we have witnessed it evolve over the years to become one of the leading marathons globally which encompasses some of the world’s top athletes.  As an organization, we recognize the importance of instilling a culture of wellbeing in our company.  Our support of, and participation in, the Dubai Marathon serves to underline our corporate commitment to helping employees maintain healthier lifestyles.

Dubai Holding’s wellness programme empowers employees to achieve optimal health through stress management, physical activity and dietary guidance.

Cedric Betis, Dubai Holding Corporate Wellness Manager, said:

Numerous studies have shown that there is in fact an economic benefit for companies to ensure that their employees remain healthy.

  Dubai Holding has been a pioneer regional organization and our Corporate Wellness Programme is just another example of this spirit.

In addition, Dubai Holding will be rewarding its own staff who participate in and complete the Race and Marathon.

Notes to Editors

About Dubai Holding

Dubai Holding was launched in October 2004 to consolidate the various large-scale infrastructure and investment projects in Dubai, as well as to identify opportunities to develop future major projects that will benefit the UAE and the region.

Under its slogan: “For the Good of Tomorrow” Dubai Holding has been created with the goal of providing a better future for all through the range of life-improving industries it is involved in. Each Dubai Holding operating company focuses on key areas which dynamically support the development of Dubai as a world-leading hub for commerce, leisure and finance. In 2009 the company realigned its businesses into four verticals:  Property, Business Parks, Hospitality and Investments.

Dubai Holding’s member companies are: Jumeirah Group, TECOM Investments, Dubai Group, Dubai Properties Group, Tatweer, Sama Dubai, and Dubai International Capital. Through these companies Dubai Holding has a foothold in four continents with more than 250 companies and around 16, 000 employees.

Dubai Holding and its entities have initiated, launched, and managed companies in different sectors. These companies include: Jumeirah Living, Jumeirah Essex House, Wild Wadi, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Knowledge Village, Dubai investment Group, Noor Islamic Bank, Borse Dubai, Dubai Properties, Injaz, Salwan Properties Management, Dubai Healthcare City, The Tiger Woods Dubai, Dubai International Capital Global Equity, and Dubai International Capital Private Equity.

For more information, please visit www.dubaiholding.com

For more information, please contact:

Salam Kitmitto
JIWIN Public Relations
Tel: +971 4 433 2547
Mob: +971 50 276 9286
Email: Salam.Kitmitto@jiwin.ae