Red ribbons and information leaflets to spread awareness for World AIDS Day will be distributed at Dr Marten retail outlets in Dubai tomorrow. The drive marks the first time that shops here have taken part in the worldwide campaign which has been running since 1998.

Harpreet Sing Thind, Dr Marten's Dubai Marketing Manager, said, "The company's contribution started three years ago in the UK, when lots of celebrities decorated Dr Marten shoes and exhibited them for the charity.

"Now outlets worldwide support the campaign, but this is the first time Dubai's stores have taken part. "AIDS now affects more than 36 million people all over the world, and is still spreading.

It is very important that people are educated because while there are drugs and medical treatments which can offer the chance of cure to a lot of illnesses, the only way to help prevent the spread of AIDS is through awareness," he said.

"In this part of the world there is a tendency for people to shy away from the subject, which could leave people more vulnerable to the disease, and this is why we're taking part in the campaign.

"It will also be interesting to see just how many people will actually know what the red ribbon symbolises, because then we can gauge the level of awareness here.

"In other parts of the world, there has been a lot of publicity through the media for many years, but here it's pretty rare to see anything about it." Shops taking part in the event are 360 Sports in BurJuman Centre and the Dr Martens retail outlet in the Beach Centre.