Dubai Holding to send football fans to Muscat for GCC Cup championship

DUBAI, 31 December 2008: Dubai Holding, the official sponsor of the UAE national football team, is to provide free bus transport, for members of the official UAE national team fan group who want to support their team at the GCC Cup tournament, to be held in Oman from January 4-17.

As part of Dubai Holding's '12th Man' campaign, buses will depart from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi for the final two group games, against Qatar, on January 8, and Saudi Arabia, on January 11.

In addition, 12 winners of a poetry competition, to be held on Emarat FM from December 29 to January 5, will be flown to Muscat, courtesy of Dubai Holding. Prizes also include hotel accommodation for two nights and a free match ticket. Winners will be able to attend one of the two matches, on January 8 and 11.

Khalid Al Shafar, Marketing Director, Group Marketing, Dubai Holding, said:
"The free bus transport and poetry competition are key parts of our '12th Man' campaign aimed at encouraging UAE nationals to be part of the UAE team as it seeks to retain the coveted regional football title. We have taken this initiative in response to research we have conducted among a group of fans who made it clear they want to have the chance to be with their team during the Championship."

"We also want the UAE team to believe they have the whole hearted support of UAE nationals who will, symbolically be the team's '12th Man'," added Al Shafar.

On January 8 and 11 buses, branded with images of the UAE national football team and Dubai Holding's logo, will depart from Dubai Marine Beach Resort, on Jumeirah Road, in Dubai and next to the giant UAE flag, close to Marina Mall, in Abu Dhabi, between 8.30am and 9.30am. The buses will ferry the fans back to Dubai and Abu Dhabi following each match.

Supporters travelling on the buses will receive free Fan Kits, which include branded kandooras, face masks, UAE flag, car stickers, a light snack and free tickets to the matches.

Fans hoping to win the flights to Muscat for the GCC Cup group games will be required to read out their poems, in support of the UAE national football team, live on Emarat FM radio station. Fifteen shortlisted poems will be aired each day and two winners will be selected, with 12 winners selected over the six days of the competition. The poems will be judged by an acknowledged expert.

Dubai Holding's '12th Man' campaign was successfully launched in Al Ain Mall and Dubai Festival City last week when hundreds of UAE national football team fans collected free Fan Kits from a special Dubai Holding stand in the malls.

At the 19th GCC Cup in Oman, the UAE national team will be defending the title they won in 2007. The team will play three tough group matches in Muscat. On January 5 they will play Yemen; on January 8 Qatar and on January 11, Saudi Arabia. All three matches kick off at 6pm local time.