DUBAI, UAE, September 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

• Basketball superstar's first trip to Middle East began with an exclusive press show at Almas Tower
• DMCC's Executive Chairman Ahmed Bin Sulayem presented Kobe Bryant with a DMCC Free Zone Licence
• DMCC's role as title sponsor of the weekend highlights the Free Zone's commitment to promoting a healthier and more active UAE

Today marked the beginning of the highly anticipated Kobe Bryant Health and Fitness Weekend, presented by the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority ('DMCC'). The Weekend officially commenced today with a press show held at DMCC's headquarters in Almas Tower, the tallest commercial tower in the Middle East.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130925/642692 )

The event opened with introductory speeches from Kobe Bryant; DMCC Executive Chairman Ahmed Bin Sulayem; Dr. Ghada Aoun, Medical Director and Specialist Endocrinologist & Diabetologist at Boston Diabetes and Endocrine Centre; and Sarah Omolewu, Managing Partner, Maven Marketing & Events; with a strong focus on the parallels between a healthy lifestyle and success in sports and business.

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of DMCC, also took the opportunity to present Kobe Bryant with a DMCC Free Zone business licence (recently announced as the largest free zone in the UAE), that will enable the basketball star and business mogul to operate a business from Dubai with 100 per cent ownership and 0 corporate tax.

"We are honoured to welcome Kobe (Bryant) to Dubai, especially as this is his first visit to the Middle East but also because he is here to help raise awareness of the importance of health and fitness. Health is the world's most precious commodity and a topic we are passionate about here at DMCC.

"Now the largest and fastest growing Free Zone in the UAE with a growing global presence, we are excited to introduce Kobe - who continuously inspire people across the globe in sports and in business - to the DMCC corporate family by presenting him with a DMCC Free Zone business license", said Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman, DMCC.

When asked about his first impressions of Dubai, Kobe Bryant said:  

"This is my first trip to Dubai, I'm going to use it to learn about the cultural and business priorities of the region and to understand how they align with my core competencies."

The Kobe Bryant Health and Fitness Weekend will continue tomorrow with a youth basketball skills clinic for 40 lucky students at GEMS American Academy in Abu Dhabi. Bryant will be joined by players from the Real Madrid basketball "Legends" team, giving the students access to quality training from some of the best in the business.

The weekend will culminate in the highly anticipated celebrity basketball game on 27th September at the state-of-the-art Knights Arena at American University in Dubai. Bryant will lead the warm-up and coach a team of celebrity players, called Team Black Mamba. Playing against Team Black Mamba will be the Real Madrid basketball legends.

More information on the Kobe Bryant Health and Fitness Weekend presented by DMCC is available on: http://www.kobefitnessuae.com.

Notes to editors:

About The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre

The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) is a strategic initiative of the Government of Dubai, was established in 2002, with a mandate to provide the physical, market and financial infrastructure required to set up a commodities market place in Dubai. The Centre attracts key players throughout the entire value chain of a wide range of commodities sectors, together with relevant support industries such as finance, logistics and insurance. DMCC has established a robust infrastructure, including free zone status, trade networking platforms, secure vaults and purpose-built storage facilities. Resident companies of DMCC are offered highly attractive benefits under a free zone status, including 50-year guaranteed 0% corporate and personal income tax, 100 per cent business ownership, full ownership of business premises, and a secure regulated environment. DMCC has also implemented a dedicated compliance policy in the organisation, which is in line with the compliance related laws and regulations of the UAE Federal Government and the competent international bodies. DMCC owns three fully operational towers which host the majority of the physical, market and financial infrastructure including the Jewellery & Gemplex facility, the specialised diamond and pearl exchanges and gold vault. http://www.dmcc.ae

Media Enquiries:
DMCC
Henriette Svensen
PR & Corporate Communications Manager
+971-4-375-2207
henriette.svensen@dmcc.ae      

Brunswick Group
Katharine Crallé
Associate
+971-56-174-0292
kcralle@brunswickgroup.com

SOURCE Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC)