Dubai Holding partners with Al Shabab Club to host memorabilia exhibition on Dubai's sporting history

DUBAI, 28 October 2008: Dubai Holding, one of the fastest growing companies in the Middle East with diverse business interests across life improving sectors, announced its exclusive partnership with the Al Shabab Al Arabi football club (UAE Champion in 2008), for hosting an exhibition showcasing various sporting memorabilia as part of the club's 50th anniversary celebrations.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, the exhibition will be held from 26 October - 1 November at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai.

The event will showcase the history, heritage, and tradition of Dubai through sport, featuring images and memorabilia of the emirate's sporting past through to its present.

A series of trophies won by the club will also be displayed, with an exclusive spotlight on a trophy fully made of gold.

Dubai Holding's initiative to sponsor the exhibition comes as part of its aggressive corporate social responsibility agenda that mandates a dynamic involvement in community-related activities.

Khalid Al Shafar, Marketing Director of Dubai Holding, said:

"As official sponsors of the UAE's national football team, the game is close to the organization's heart. We are thrilled to extend our support to the Al Shabab Al Arabi Club on this milestone occasion that will help us strengthen our synergy with the sporting strata of our community. The exhibition will definitely enhance the popularity of football in the UAE and unite Al Shabab's fans and football enthusiasts from different backgrounds by bringing them together under one platform."

Founded in 1958, Al Shabab Al Arabi 50th anniversary celebrations will include year-long activities revolving around the concept of 'The Way is Green'.

Apart from green being the club's official colour, it also connotes hope, youth, and the sustainable development of sports in the UAE that the Al Shabab Club aims to achieve.

His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Seed Bin Hazeem, President of Al Shabab Club, said: "The club is very proud of its history and achievement and we would like to use 2008 as a platform for welcoming an even brighter future not just for our club, but also for our fans and for sport in the UAE.

"The photography exhibition is our way of paying tribute to all the great personalities who during the past 50 years contributed to making the club what it is today. We are also extremely thankful to Dubai Holding for sponsoring an innovative exhibition such as this that will give us an opportunity to open our arms and share a piece of Dubai's history with everyone in a spirit of togetherness."

Seeking to action its corporate ethos 'For the good of tomorrow', Dubai Holding relentlessly identifies opportunities to align itself with activities that mobilises the community's participation in large numbers.

The organisation particularly seeks to raise the level of football, the national sport, through its support of initiatives led by the UAE Football Association (UAE FA).