DUBAI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Al Nasr Football Club and Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons have announced a strategic partnership that will see the latter become a major sponsor for Al Nasr’s first team competing in the United Arab Emirates Football League (UFL).

As part of the agreement, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons logo will appear on the Al Nasr football team shirt for all games during the 2009 – 2010 season with a view to extending the agreement for an additional 2 years.

Both Al Nasr Club and Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons have a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility and this partnership reinforces both the club’s and Seddiqi’s commitment to the implementation of such programs.

HH Sheikh Maktoum Bin Hasher Al Maktoum, Chairman of Al Nasr, said: “We have a clear vision and development plan for the club, and through this partnership with Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, one of the leading family business companies dealing with luxury brands in the region, we believe our plans are even more achievable. Having Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons support our vision will ensure that we have every opportunity to succeed in further developing our team, our club, and the community in which we live.”

“Al Nasr is already supporting a multi-million dirham youth for sports programme and provides children under the age of 18 with opportunities to learn and grow through their participation in a professional sports program. We provide our youth with access to professional coaches and venues and the importance that this plays in social and physical development is integral,” stated HH Sheikh Maktoum Bin Hasher Al Maktoum.

Qasim Ibrahim Seddiqi, Director at Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons said: “We are delighted to be part of the vision and plans of Al Nasr and see great synergies between what the club is trying to achieve and the values that we stand for as a leading company of luxury brands. We are looking forward to working with Al Nasr to ensure its fans, our customers, employees and the community all benefit from the activities and plans that we have.”

Both Al Nasr Club and Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons will focus on a number of community initiatives throughout the year aimed at ensuring the integration of the entire Dubai community with the Al Nasr club games, events and activities. As part of the new development plan for the club, the revenue from the deal will be re-invested into the club through the youth development scheme, new facilities and activities to ensure the sustainable and ongoing development of the club.

Note to Editors:

Sheikh Maktoum Bin Hasher Al Maktoum

His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum is the Chairman of the Dubai International Holdings (DIHC) and CEO of Al Fajer Enterprises, a business conglomerate which has over 18,000 employees with an annual turnover of approximately AED 5.8 billion. He was appointed as the President of Al Fajer Properties (AFP) in early 2008. Immediately after his appointment he restructured AFP which is now a profitable real estate venture. Sheikh Maktoum was recently awarded the MENA `CEO of the Year’ Award in the property sector. Earlier in 2007, the Davos-based World Economic Forum honoured him with the prestigious `Young Global Leader’ award. He has also been honoured with the Young CEO of the Year award for 2008 by the Middle East Excellence Awards institute presented by the former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin. A member of the Dubai’s ruling family, Sheikh Maktoum is a graduate with BS/BA in finance with Honours from Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts. Sheikh Maktoum entered the world of International business investments at a very early age and he was one of the founding investors of Virgin Megastores in the UAE. He was also the director of Shadar Holdings, where he held partnerships in the United Arab Emirates divisions of Virgin Megastores, Pull and Bear, and Bershka. Sheikh Maktoum has an avid interest in sports. He is the founder of A1 Grand Prix, which he sold out later to the UK-based investment firm, RAB Capital in 2006. In addition to motor sports, Sheikh Maktoum is a soccer aficionado and in 2009 was appointed as Chairman of the Al Nasr Sports Club.

About Al Nasr Club

Al Nasr meaning “Victory” was founded in 1945 by a group of young men with a strong vision and passion for creating the team, in Mohamed Ali Zain’s land in Al Gobaiba. A resolution was issued three years later which transformed the team into a club with a clear vision and mission and this was when Al Nasr, as we know it today was born.

Al-Nasr’s Board of Directors comprises of the most senior and experienced leaders in the UAE. The President and the foundation of the club is His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance. The board of directors is led by the Chairman, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Hasher Al Maktoum.

Al Nasr, located in the heart of old Dubai, near to American Hospital, is the oldest club in the UAE and provides facilities for football, basketball, volleyball, handball, swimming, tennis, cycling and karate, in addition to a wide variety of leisure activities, including Al Nasr Leisureland.

About Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons

Established in 1950, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons is a family owned and run business synonymous with exquisitely designed watches. From its humble beginnings as a single store in the Bur Dubai Souk, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons has thrived to become the largest retailer of Swiss Brand watches in the Middle East, boasting a portfolio of over 50 prestigious brands across 52 locations in the UAE. The passion for luxury Swiss watches is deeply embedded in Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons family. The Board of Directors and Executive Committee is comprised of the second, third and fourth generation of the Seddiqi family.

For further information and store locations please visit www.seddiqi.com

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