Tens of amateurs and professionals take part in Gulf Bank’s "Off-Roading” Challenge

• Ahmed Al-Amir: In light of the great turnout and the demands of young people, we are considering organizing the event annually
• Fahad Al-Sharrah: Gulf Bank puts the youth in the center of its attention and is keen to have a permanent presence with all segments of society

Kuwait, 20 March 2022: Amid a huge turnout of spectators of all ages, Gulf Bank successfully wrapped up the first sports event of its kind in Kuwait: the Gulf Bank "Off-Roading” challenge. The event was on Friday in Bneider, with the participation of tens of off-roading amateurs and professionals who competed over the course of five hours.

After fierce competition between the contestants, who overcame both natural and artificial barriers, the Organizing Committee announced the 6 winning athletes of the race, 3 from the professional category: Talal Al-Sabah, Youssef Al-Mutawa and Abdul Aziz bin Saghir, and 3 from the amateur category: Suleiman Al-Khudari, Faisal Al-Hajri and Majed Al-Qaisi.

This year’s Off-Roading Challenge was the first event of its kind in Kuwait, and was held by Gulf Bank, in cooperation with the Suffix company for sports events management and Kuwait Motor Sport Club. On the sidelines of the race, the Gulf Bank team held mini competitions for spectators and visitors. Spectators were asked questions related to the Off-Roading Challenge.

The Deputy General Manager of Corporate Communications at Gulf Bank, Ahmad Al-Amir commented: “We would like to congratulate the Off-Roading Challenge first-place winners. We are looking forward to putting on more sporting and social events that meet the needs and aspirations of all segments of our society, especially as we start to navigate our new, post-pandemic normal.”

He added: In light of the large public attendance, especially from the youth group, and the large number of requests to participate in the past from amateurs and professionals in the “Off Road” sport, which reflects the interest of the youth in practicing this sport, and based on their demands, we are considering developing and organizing the event annually.

As part of its ongoing commitment to social responsibility and its continuous support of local youth, Gulf Bank is keen to organize multiple sporting events throughout the year, providing local youth with the opportunity to practice their beloved sports and pursue their passions – all while competing for valuable cash prizes.

He stated that sustainability programs, particularly social responsibility, represent one of the main pillars of Gulf Bank's 2025 strategy, which focuses on all financial, environmental and social aspects, in a way that contributes to the development of society and enhances its leadership in all fields, through the application of sustainable practices with great effectiveness.

On his part, Assistant Manager of Corporate Communications at Gulf Bank, Fahad Al-Sharrah, said that the participants competed on both natural terrain and artificial industrial barriers, with the degree of difficulty ranging from easy to medium. The competition circuit was prepared with various rough roads, using sand, rocks, water basins, and other challenges that the competitors met head-on, all while maintaining the strictest security and safety measures.

Al-Sharrah affirmed Gulf Bank's interest in sponsoring sporting events as part of the Bank’s role in promoting local youth’s mental and physical health. Gulf Bank greatly prioritizes the local youth segment both in terms of its banking services and its commitment to their social wellbeing.

He pointed out that Gulf Bank, based on its motto “Always With You,” presents a distinct model for sustainability programs that include all segments of the local population, resulting in multiple initiatives that promote a great quality of life, including sports, health, and education activities.

Social responsibility is one of the main pillars of Gulf Bank's 2025 strategy. Gulf Bank is committed to maintaining a robust Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) social responsibility program, heading various educational initiatives throughout the year that have a sustainable impact on the lives of youth and society.

A Successful Partnership

On his part, General Manager at the Suffix company for sports events management, Ahmed Al Majed, said: “We are proud to partner with Gulf Bank to organize the Off-Roading Challenge, the first sports event of its kind in Kuwait. We were extremely impressed to witness all the athletes' performances and the huge public turnout, a true testament to the event’s success.”

He pointed out that Suffix’s partnership with Gulf Bank in organizing sporting events extends longer than six years, with Suffix assisting in organizing the annual Gulf Bank 642 Marathon. The marathon was recently awarded a Bronze Ranking by World Athletics, an honor that Gulf Bank shares among only 128 marathons around the world.

The race consisted of 9 stages, with each stage varying between natural terrain and industrial challenges. Contestants were evaluated by a panel of judges, and were judged based on their timing and performance in their respective car categories.

Gulf Bank's vision is to be the leading Kuwaiti Bank of the Future. The Bank is constantly engaging and empowering its employees as part of an inclusive and diversified workplace in recognition of every employee’s role in delivering customer excellence and serving the community at large. With its extensive network of branches and innovative digital services, Gulf Bank is able to give its customers the choice of how and where to conduct their banking transactions, all while ensuring a simple and seamless banking experience. Gulf Bank is committed to maintaining a robust sustainability program at the community, economic, and environmental levels through sustainability initiatives that are strategically selected to benefit both the country and the Bank. Gulf Bank supports Kuwait Vision 2035 “New Kuwait” and works with the different relevant parties to achieve it.