Dubai Holding supports the Dubai Marathon for the fourth consecutive year

DUBAI, 19 January 2011: Dubai Holding, one of the region’s largest conglomerates, is extending its support for the 2011 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, to be held on Friday, January 21, by sponsoring prizes for the fastest UAE Nationals in the men’s and women’s races and the wheelchair category.

With more than 1,200 staff members taking part Dubai Holding will, once again, field the largest corporate team across the event’s three races. It is the fourth year in a row that Dubai Holding has been a support sponsor of the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon.

The Standard Chartered Marathon is held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and staged under the aegis of the Dubai Sports Council.

With a high percentage of UAE residents classed as overweight or obese, Dubai Holding’s support for the marathon is part of the company’s efforts to encourage local initiatives to promote a healthier and fitter lifestyle.

Participation in the marathon is one of the pillars of Dubai Holding’s Wellness Programme, which was launched in 2007. One of the first corporate wellness initiatives in the Middle East, is designed to help employees attain optimal health and wellbeing through a number of means, including healthy nutrition, physical activity and stress management.

The programme is enhanced through a partnership with Vielife, the global provider of employee health solutions, which gives staff access to a set of proven solutions such as wellbeing assessments, online personalized reports, targeted risk assessments, as well as lifestyle management programs.

More than 14,000 runners are expected to compete in the marathon, the 10km race and the 3km Fun Run.

The Standard Chartered Marathon is supported by The Dubai Sports Council, "Official Outfitter" adidas, The Address Dubai Marina, Dubai Eye 103.8 FM, Khaleej Times, TNT, Gatorade, Aquafina, Fitness First, Men’s Fitness, Plan B and by government departments Dubai Police, RTA, Dubai Municipality, DHA and the Dubai Ambulance Services.