10/02/2026 04:47 AST
As the title sponsor of the Gulf Bank 642 Marathon, Gulf Bank recently hosted representatives from Suffix, the event's organizing partner, at its headquarters for a comprehensive review of the key success factors of the marathon's eleventh edition and to discuss opportunities for further development in future editions. The meeting reflects the Bank's ongoing commitment to advancing community sports initiatives and ensuring the long term sustainability of this national sporting platform.
During the visit, Suffix representatives expressed their sincere appreciation for Gulf Bank's continued support and strategic leadership, emphasizing that the marathon's sustained success is driven by the Bank's clear vision and strong commitment to promoting sports culture, encouraging active lifestyles, and reinforcing the role of major sporting events in supporting national economic and social development.
The eleventh edition represented a major milestone in the marathon's journey, evolving beyond a conventional race into a fully integrated community platform that brings together athletes, families and fitness enthusiasts from across Kuwait. The event attracted more than 10,000 runners and welcomed over 20,000 attendees, reflecting strong public engagement and reaffirming its position as one of Kuwait's most prominent community sporting events. Its inclusion on the "Visit Kuwait" platform further highlights its growing role in supporting sports tourism and positioning Kuwait as a regional destination for major sporting activities.
The marathon also received widespread positive engagement across Gulf Bank's social media platforms, with hundreds of supportive and encouraging comments from participants, families and community members. These interactions reflected high levels of satisfaction with the organization, atmosphere and overall experience, further reinforcing the marathon's strong reputation and the Bank's credibility in delivering large scale, community focused initiatives.
The latest edition also witnessed significant progress in female participation, with women accounting for 40.6 percent of total registrations. This achievement reflects the growing societal awareness of the importance of physical activity, wellness, and balanced lifestyles, as well as the increasing participation of women in national sports initiatives. Collectively, participants burned more than 7 million calories on race day, held on November 29, 2025, highlighting the event's tangible impact on promoting public health and wellbeing.
The successful organization and delivery of this large scale event were supported by nearly 500 dedicated volunteers, including a significant number from "Sawaaed AlKhaleej," Gulf Bank's volunteer team. Their active engagement and professionalism played a vital role in ensuring smooth operations and delivering a high quality experience for participants and visitors. This strong volunteer presence reflects Gulf Bank's deep rooted commitment to social responsibility, community partnership and employee involvement in national initiatives.
This edition focused on delivering a comprehensive and immersive experience that extended beyond the traditional concept of a road race. Participants' enthusiasm was sustained throughout the event through dynamic entertainment performances, interactive stations along the route, family friendly activities, and a vibrant festive atmosphere. These elements transformed the marathon into a nationwide celebration of health, unity and community spirit.
In recognition of Gulf Bank's outstanding contribution, The CEO of Suffix, Ahmad Al-Huzami, presented a commemorative trophy to the Bank for achieving the highest level of employee participation among all participating organizations. The trophy was received by Najla Aleisa, Chief Marketing Officer of Gulf Bank, reflecting the Bank's strong corporate culture, which actively promotes wellbeing, teamwork and employee engagement as core organizational values.
It is also noteworthy that, for the first time since the marathon's launch, registration closed several days before race day due to exceptionally high demand. This unprecedented response reflects the growing enthusiasm among individuals and families to participate in organized sports events and adopt healthier lifestyles, as well as the increasing trust in the marathon as a professionally managed and high quality national sporting platform.
Through its continued title sponsorship and strategic partnership with Suffix, Gulf Bank reaffirms its commitment to supporting initiatives that enhance quality of life, encourage social cohesion, and contribute to Kuwait's long term development goals. The Gulf Bank 642 Marathon remains a flagship example of how the Bank leverages its resources, expertise, and influence to create meaningful, sustainable and wide reaching impact for the community.
Kuwait Times
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