Airline extends its connection with Saudi football through high-profile club tournament
Move is in line with supporting the development of Kingdom’s fast-growing sporting industry
JEDDAH, KSA-: Emirates has today announced that it has officially signed on as the Main Sponsor and Official Airline of the King Salman Club Cup 2023. The new sponsorship is in line with the airline’s efforts to support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambitions to become a global centre for professional sport. The deal also underscores the airline’s ongoing commitment to connect with the fanbase of the 16 top-tier regional clubs from across the Arab World competing in the high-profile tournament. The announcement was revealed today at a press conference in Jeddah.
Jabr Al-Azeeby, Vice President Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Emirates Airline remarked on 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.”
His Excellency Abdullah bin Saeed Aldalac, Vice President of the Saudi Sports Ministry said: “The Vice President of the Arab Federation welcomes the partnership and confirms that it will be a successful addition to the championship.”
The sponsorship deal gives Emirates extensive in-stadium brand visibility across a number of touchpoints and on-site advertising at the King Salman Cup. The tournament starts on 27 July and will run through 12 August, taking place across stadiums in Abha, Albaha and Ta’if. The airline will also receive on-site promotional opportunities and hospitality rights. Additionally, Emirates will benefit from digital rights on the tournament channels, and will also lead the trophy presentation during the final match.
The King Salman Cup 2023, now in its 30th season, is the Arab World’s official club championship organised by the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA). As part of the tournament, 16 clubs at the top of their leagues from across the GCC and North Africa will face off in 31 matches for the ultimate title of champions. The final match will be played in Ta’if at The King Fahed Stadium. A total of USD $10 million will be awarded during the tournament. Well-known clubs in KSA including Al Hilal and Al Nasr will compete in addition to Al Zamalek, Al Wihda, Kuwait Club, Al Rajaa (reigning champions), Shabab Bluzad and others from across the region.
Football remains one of the most celebrated sports within Emirates’ sponsorship portfolio. This is demonstrated through ongoing partnerships with some of the biggest names in club football, and some of the most significant tournaments. The airline is a shirt sponsor of leading European and international clubs like AC Milan, Real Madrid, Benfica SL, Arsenal FC and Olympic Lyonnaise. The airline is also the Title Sponsor of The Emirates FA Cup. Emirates recently signed a sponsorship deal with Etoile Sportive du Sahel, one of the most decorated football and basketball sports clubs in Tunisia. It also supports the Arabian Pro-League in the UAE and the Asian Football Confederation.
Emirates has been flying to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 1989, developing its services to Riyadh, Jeddah, Medina, Dammam and today operates to the four gateways with 67 weekly flights. The airline has also carried close to 27 million passengers to and from the Kingdom, connecting travellers to destinations across its network. The airline’s ongoing commitment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is underscored by catering to growing passenger demand, and building on customer experience enhancements, like introducing the A380, to ensure that customers travelling can enjoy its latest flagship products.
The airline is also committed to supporting Saudi Vision 2030 by helping to grow the Kingdom’s aviation sector and stimulating robust traffic growth, increasing connectivity and deepening its global footprint.