Dubai Holding to field largest team at Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon 2013

DUBAI, 23 December 2012: Dubai Holding, the global investment holding company, announced that it plans to field the largest corporate team to have ever participated in a Dubai Marathon in the event next month and thereby support the organiser’s aims of increasing participation. Dubai Holding’s sixth consecutive support sponsorship of the Dubai Marathon is a cornerstone of its Corporate Wellness Programme.

Dubai Holding and its companies; Jumeirah Group, TECOM Investments, Dubai Properties Group and Emirates International Telecommunications, will partake in the 42km Marathon and 10km Road Race on January 25th, 2013, which will see world champions, such as Kenyan runner Moses Cheruiyot Mosop, compete.

In 2010, Dubai Holding introduced the UAE National prize category offering a total of AED 86,000 to the three fastest UAE nationals in the women's and men's 42km Marathon, 10km Road Races and pushchair categories. This initiative of encouraging UAE Nationals is in line with Dubai Government’s efforts of supporting healthier living habits.

Cedric Betis, Corporate Wellness Manager at Dubai Holding, said: "Dubai Holding is proud to be a support sponsor of the Dubai Marathon, Dubai’s flagship sports event. We applaud our colleagues for their continued and increasing participation over the years. We are particularly pleased to see the positive results yielded from our Corporate Wellness Programme, the first of its kind in the Middle East. This programme has played a major role in promoting a healthier lifestyle among our employees."

Peter Connerton, Event Director, Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, said: “Over the past five years, Dubai Holding has been a key pillar in the evolution of the Dubai Marathon. Their support in the early years of the race and the introduction of the new UAE National prize category, has helped shape the Dubai Marathon in to the success that it is today. We wish to thank Dubai Holding for their unwavering support over the years.”

Dubai Holding introduced a nine-week fitness programme aimed at mentoring employees and training them to finish the race with the best possible results. Support is also extended through regular motivational tips and preparation recommendations.

In 2007, Dubai Holding was the first Middle East organisation to launch a comprehensive Corporate Wellness Programme to help employees attain optimal physical and mental health and wellbeing through a series of lifestyle sessions on healthy nutrition, physical activity and stress management.

The multidisciplinary programme addresses activities such as weight loss challenges, group fitness sessions, and pedometer challenges, and relies on education and targeted interventions to enhance health awareness, motivate actions to change lives, create an environment that supports good health practices, as well as prevent illness, injury and disability.