Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Cabinet Member and UAE Minister of Economy.
Kannur: United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Economy Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri took part in the ‘Year of Community Run,’ held as part of the eighth edition of the Kannur Beach Run on Sunday. The event, organized in collaboration with the North Malabar Chamber of Commerce and UAE-based VPS Healthcare, saw participation from top-tier athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and community leaders.
Al Marri’s presence in Kerala follows his participation in the Invest Kerala Global Summit, which concluded in Kochi on Saturday. His involvement in the run was at the special invitation of Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, a prominent global healthcare entrepreneur and mentor of the event.
The run was organized as a tribute to the UAE’s ‘Year of Community 2025,’ an initiative announced by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to encourage active contributions to society through community service, volunteering, and impactful initiatives. The 2025 theme aims to foster a culture of shared responsibility and drive collective progress.
Kerala Assembly Speaker A N Shamseer flagged off the run, which saw participation from over 100 individuals across various sectors. Dr. Vayalil, chairman and managing director of VPS Healthcare, highlighted the deep-rooted ties between the UAE and India, particularly Kerala, where nearly one million Keralites reside in the Gulf nation.
The ‘Year of Community Run’ also served as a platform to raise awareness about community service initiatives among expatriates, reinforcing the spirit of unity and shared responsibility. Dr. Vayalil emphasized that such initiatives strengthen the bonds between nations and promote a culture of giving back to society.
With PTI inputs