The Emirates has been more involved in football throughout the years. It now has a reputation for partnering with various international football teams. The Emirates has made several notable sporting partnerships through the years. It has proved to be a benefit for Emirates and earned them good publicity. Let’s find out the most notable Emirates sporting partnerships that have made them famous.
1. AC Milan
Among the most recognizable partnerships in football, AC Milan is one of them. AC Milan and Emirates first partnered in September of 2007. After a year, their relationship heightened to Top Institutional Sponsor in 2008. In the 2010/2011 session, the shirt sponsor deal had also begun. In the December of 2022, their partnership was renewed. Their “Fly Better” logo is present on the shirt of the team throughout all seasons.Their logo is also prominent in all AC Milan academies, promoting their team and sport.This Emirates branding is also displayed in the San Siro Stadium. Their team has been promoted excessively by The Emirates. Their logo and sponsor’s are shown in many Stadiums. Their logo was visible during 590 official matches. Plans are being made to open a new office in Dubai for more focus in partnerships and sponsor’s.
2. Real Madrid CF
Real Madrid CF is another prominent sporting partner of The Emirates. Their partnership first began in the year 2011. The agreement was mainly made due to Emirates’ desire to raise their global reach through sports sponsorships. In the year 2013, Emirates became the main sponsor of the teams shirt. The Emirates’ airline logo is shown in the shirt as a part of the deal. This partnership is expected to last for several years after their renewal in 2017. Joint marketing campaigns are a part of their deal. The Emirates benefit from the team in several advertisement and sponsorships.
3. Arsenal FC
The 22 year collaboration between The Emirates and Arsenal FC makes it the longest front-of-shirt sponsorship in the history of the Premier League. The partnership started in the year 2006 and is said to continue till 2028. Also, Emirates has the naming rights to Emirates Stadium, Arsenal’s home ground. Furthermore, Emirates is a key partner in the annual pre-season football tournament hosted by Arsenal, the Emirates Cup. The financial support provided by Emirates has supported Arsenal throughout the years, allowing them to stay afloat. The club has made some movements in the transfer market and make investments for the future.
4. King Salman Club
On 16th July 2023, the King Salman Club signed a sponsor deal with the Emirates. This makes Emirates the main sponsor of the King Salman Cup 2023. The deal aligns with the Emirate’s goal of becoming the global center of professional sports. Jabr Al-Azeeby, Vice President Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Emirates Airline had this to say about the new partnership:
Emirates is one of the biggest names in sports and is heavily involved in the sport of football, helping fans get closer to the action, and engaging in ways that go far beyond logo recognition. We’re committed to engaging with fans across new football frontiers by supporting the King Salman Cup 2023. We’re also incredibly proud to play a role in supporting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s 2030 Vision to become a global powerhouse for professional sports. It’s already a driving force on the global stage across a gamut of sports, and the tournament is part of wider efforts to expand sports further in Saudi. Over the next few weeks of the tournament, we hope to build unique opportunities and experiences with a rich mix of top-tier clubs across the Arab World.
The sponsorship provides Emirates rights to promote media in stadiums during tournaments. This gives Emirates the opportunity to advertise and promote.
5 .Étoile Sportive du Sahel
The Emirates has sponsored ESS to enhance its brand visibility and branding on the team’s shirts and kits. The sponsorship isn’t only limited to football, ESS is involved in other sports such as basketball and volleyball. The Emirates sponsors all these other sports played by ESS as well. The partnership is useful to ESS as it also provides them with international exposure. Through advertisements and media, ESS can gain more traction and become more popular.