The RAK Marathon sponsored by RAK Logistics LLC is listed as a hugely popular marathon in the region. It is the world’s most spectacular race and has been held six times since 2007. The marathon touts involvement with many local and national charities. 

As the 7am starting horn sounded on this pleasantly cool (13C) Friday morning in the UAE’s northern-most emirate of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), the sense of anticipation was almost tangible with world class elitefields gathered of unprecedented depth. At Thursday’s pre-race press conference, the big names were very reluctant to give anything away, illnesses and injuries mentioned by several, and one got the clear impression that cards were being kept well up the sleeves of various tracksuit tops.

Come race morning, gone were the strong winds of last year which blew away any chance of record times and it was soon clear that the gloves were off, none more so than in the women’s race where several athletes had talked privately of chasing world or continental records. All were keen to see a return from their mid-winter hibernation from racing and so it transpired; two marvellous races unfolded, each setting in-depth records along with fabulous winning times.

Unusually, it was the women who set off in most aggressive fashion, a group of eleven passing 5km in 15:35, under world record pace, and it was eventual winner Lucy Kabuu, who had complained of losing ten days’ training due to a cold over the previous two weeks, who showed most prominently. That group whittled down to seven by 10km, only slowing marginally with a 31:18 split (15:43 second 5k).

Meanwhile the men had adopted a different approach, easing through 5km in a more cautious 14:02 with only recent winner of the Houston Half Marathon Feyisa Lilesa of Ethiopia, trying to make it quicker in the early stages. The pack of eleven included all the main luminaries and a steady 10k split of 28:12 (14:10 second 5k), saw only one athlete drop away. It seemed a sub-60 minute clocking was likely, but nothing prepared those following proceedings at the finish line for what was to come.

Behind them, the women were enjoying perfect pacemaking, but that near world record tempo for the first half took its toll and 15km, reached in 47:14, while it showed a marked slowing (15:56 third 5k), still reduced the group to four – Kenyans Kabuu, Priscah Jeptoo, and Rita Jeptoo along with Ethiopia’s IAAF World Half Marathon Champion Meseret Hailu. Incredibly, despite the quartet operating at a net tempo that none had experienced before, a significant acceleration was to follow, as the speed was upped by Kabuu whoestablished a small gap by 17km, hardly surprising as that fourth 5k split was as quick as the first, 15:35 for a 20k time of 1:02:49 (only 13 seconds outside Mary Keitany’s world best, itself set during her world record run in RAK two years ago).

The men’s contest was now unfolding in similar fashion, though their more cautious start gave them reserves which became apparent only in the latter stages. After 5k splits of 14:02 and 14:10 (28:12 – Feyisa Lelisa leading), they maintained optimum tempo with a 14:03 third 5k split. That took them to 15k in 42:15, by when just four remained, Kenyans Geoffrey Kipsang,Stanley Biwott and Geoffrey Mutai, with just as in the women’s race, a sole Ethiopian in the figure of Feyisa Lelisa, who as it turned out, was hanging on.

Again as in the women’s race, it was the 5k segment to 20k that saw real ferocity unleashed, as 20 year old Geoffrey Kipsang, IAAF World Junior Cross Country Champion in 2011, began to surge, dragging Stanley Biwott and 2010 RAK winner Geoffrey Mutai with him. Before long however, he forged a gap and charged through 20k alone in 56:03 (4th 5k in 13:48) and it was then apparent that he would likely dip under 59 minutes, joining only ten other men to have achieved the feat.

He maintained the surge, crossing the line to the roars of the crowd, in 58:54 just two seconds ahead of Stanley Biwott’s 58:56, with in third place Geoffrey Mutai broaching significant new ground on 58:58. It is the first time three men had broken 59 minutes in the same race. For good measure, fourth and fifth placed Feyisa Lilesa (59:25) and Stephen Kibet (59:59) also came home under the hour mark.

A mile and a half behind, Kabuu was having to dig deep to maintain her lead, but lead she did; a five second gap ahead of Priscah Jeptoo at 20km, was reduced to just two seconds as she broke the tape, her fabulous time of 1:06:09 being the second fastest in history on a certified half marathon course. Only Keitany’s world record here two years previously has been quicker, but that was a solo effort with a winning margin of over three minutes; by contrast, Kabuu was never safe in the latter stages but had sufficient strength to stay ahead of Olympic Marathon silver medallist Priscah of the Jeptoo pairing.

The women’s place times were quite astonishing as the 1:06:11 in second by Priscah Jeptoo, the fastest ever losing performance, was a personal best by over four minutes and Rita Jeptoo in third on 1:06:27, improved by over 40 seconds; the previous fastest third place, was Derartu Tulu’s 1:07:03 on the downhill Lisbon course in 2001. With for the first time ever in the same race, four women under 67 minutes, six under 68 minutes, ten under 69 minutes and the first twelve home under 70 minutes, the RAK Half Marathon has underlined its reputation as the must-do half marathon for distance runners intent on improving their personal best and keen to acquire a confidence boost with the big spring marathons less than eight weeks away.

Statisticians will assess the significance of the results at RAK 2013 more firmly when the big marathons of April roll by, but what is clear is that the RAK Half Marathon in 2013 was a great day of fast racing that will be long remembered as one that took many big names in to new territory.

Over 100 experts involved in the maritime sector gathered at the Maersk Shipping awards on 18 April 2012 in Dubai at The Monarch Hotel to celebrate those companies making great strides to shape and improve the environmental legacy of shipping.

The awards ceremony was opened by Mr Lars Nielsen, Maersk Managing Director for UAE Oman and Iran, highlighting the efforts and contributions that forwarders as well as key accounts have made to Maersk shipping line during past year in a competitive and challenging year.

During the ceremony RAK Logistics LLC, famous for its strong presence in the sea freight sector, was awarded the Platinum Award for being Maersk Freight Forwarder in 2011, commenting on the award Mr Majed Zambaraji, CEO RAK Logistics, said “ we are delighted to be nominated by Maersk shipping line as one of their key partners, this award is a testimonial of the close cooperation and coordination both Maersk and RAK have developed over the years leading to better service and more reliable deliveries to end users”.

The Maersk Shipping Line award ceremony reinforces the need for shipping lines to work more closely with forwarders as an extended sales arm to their asset fleet and to see the link between sound business ethics, environmentally sustainable operations and positive long-term business performance.

RAK Logistics move over 50,000 containers cargo per year and, thru their large purchasing power negotiating directly with shipping lines and airlines, obtain preferential rates for their clients. RAK Logistics offers fast transit times at economical prices and have their local experts work with end users and shipping lines to secure space availability and track cargo to ensure products arrive on time.

SAUDI ARABIA. SAUDI TRANSTEC is the first Saudi Arabian Transport and Logistics Exhibition & Conference to be held in the Eastern Province.

The event was developed to provide the Transport, Logistics, Materials Handling and Warehousing sectors in Saudi Arabia, with an exhibition and conference they can participate in and network at.

Opportunities exist for companies to showcase products and services at the exhibition and present their expertise through conference presentations.

The 2nd edition of Saudi Transtec will take place from October 17 to 19, 2011 in Dammam, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,

Building on the success of last years  Exhibition, a number of new companies have confirmed their participation and will exhibit alongside many returning companies.

The 2011 edition will incorporate established clients such as Hala Supply Chain, Kanoo Machinery, King Fahd International Airport, International Port Services, Dammam Bonded and Re-Export Zone and Logistics Solution Services (LSS), as well as new comers which include Almajdouie, Alatas Biglift, Haji Abdullah Alireza & Co, Rashed Al Rashed, International Engineering Co, Chep.

In addition a 2 day strategic conference programme will include speakers from Saudi Aramco, DAMCO, Olayan Financing Company, Agility, Al-Futtaim Logistics, Bahrain Logistics Zone, Maersk Line, RAK Logistics and the US Saudi Arabian Business
Council.

RAK Logistics has revealed that its CEO Majed Zambaraji will highlight the importance of increased integration between shipping lines and freight forwarders to achieve greater efficiencies and cost savings into the container supply chain, during the TOC Middle East shipper’s conference from September 25-27 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Companies such as RAK Logistics have partnered with Maersk Line shipping to streamline their processes in order to bring more stability and reliability into the container booking process.

“Improved planning and better scheduling have brought more reliability, visibility, as well as speed into the process. Around 20 per cent of containers fail to turn up for the voyage they are booked on, increasingly more interest is being taken by shipping lines to improve the fill rate and avoid “downfalls/last minute cancellations” and develop new strategies to increase collaboration to bring optimization of information along the 3PL,” said Zambaraji.

RAK Logistics is recognized as one of the leading freight companies in the UAE providing reliable port-to-port and door-to-door transit times. The company, which is known to offer the best price, transit times and service, covers over 140 destinations worldwide and moves over 50,000 cargo containers annually.

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