Dubai (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES): Swiss watchmaker NORQAIN will take on the role of Official Timekeeping Partner when the long-awaited Dubai Marathon returns to the global sporting scene on Sunday (February 12).
A family-owned and independent watch brand, NORQAIN comes to Dubai fresh from a similar role at the New York City Marathon in November and the brand’s commitment to the Middle East’s oldest international marathon has been warmly welcomed by Event Director Peter Connerton.
“We are pleased to welcome NORQAIN as our Official Timekeeping Partner,” he said. “It’s a dynamic brand that reflects the ambitions and values of the Dubai Marathon itself. We are flattered that their direction towards marathon running saw them target events in New York City and Dubai and we take great pride in welcoming them to the Dubai Marathon family.”
Runners in the region who have followed NORQAIN’s involvement in New York will be excited to discover that the Swiss manufacturer is also ready to introduce a Limited-Edition Dubai Marathon watch, just as they did for the US race in New York.
To commemorate its role as an official partner of the Dubai Marathon, NORQAIN will launch a unique timepiece with a specially designed dial relevant to the event itself. And, like its New York predecessor, the watch will be based on the NORQAIN Wild ONE collection.
But while the manufacturer produced 262 watches in New York (based on the 26.2-mile distance of the Marathon), in all just 22 of the Dubai Marathon watches will be produced – to mark the 22nd edition of the event itself – making them a highly attractive proposition for ardent runners and watch collectors alike.
“We are very excited to partner with the Dubai Marathon as the Official Timekeeper,” said NORQAIN CEO Ben Küffer. “Together with our strategic retail partner Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, we want to underline our commitment to the UAE and further develop our brand in this great market. We are looking forward to a strategic long-term partnership.”
Developed by NORQAIN together with industry legend Jean-Claude Biver, the Wild ONE collection boasts a robust, ultra-light case and symbolic design, and is considered the absolute ultimate watch for an active lifestyle and a perfect souvenir for Dubai Marathon runners.
Runners who have still not yet entered for the Marathon, 10km or 4km races can still do so by visiting the official website dubaimarathon.org. Registration will remain open until Saturday (February 11), although runners should note that no entries will be accepted on race day and all race packs and numbers must be collected before the close of business on Saturday.
The 2023 Dubai Marathon is supported by adidas, Dubai Duty Free, NORQAIN, the Channel 4 Radio Network, Al Ameen, the Dubai Sports Council, Dubai RTA, Dubai Police and Dubai Municipality.
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Caption: The 2023 Dubai Marathon watch as created by the event's Official Timekeeping Partner NORQAIN