Arabtec Inks Deal To Be Regional Sponsor For Man City

Dubai contractor Arabtec has signed an agreement with Manchester City Football Club to become its regional sponsor for a term of three years.

Arabtec will gain certain promotional rights and enjoy some privileges through its partnership with the Abu Dhabi owned football club, which won its second Premier League title in three years last Sunday.

The construction firm will also have access to specific rights of the use of the Club’s brand through the sponsorship deal, a statement said.

The agreement, which will run up to the end of 2017, will boost the visibility of Arabtec logo and other promotional materials across the club’s digital platforms. It will also provide the company with tickets for VIPs to attend matches and special events.

“The solid foundations upon which the Club is built have prompted us to go into a regional partnership agreement that will be highly beneficial for both parties,” said Hasan Ismaik, managing director and CEO of Arabtec Holding.

He added that the partnership will boost Arabtec’s brand as the company expands.

Ferran Soriano, chief executive officer of Manchester City, said: “Arabtec is an important force in its sector and across its region. As Arabtec looks to develop and grow further across the markets which our agreement focuses on, we are looking forward to a successful relationship and to working together.”

The club’s other headline sponsors are Abu Dhabi based institutions such as Etisalat, investment firm Aabar- which also owns the majority stake in Arabtec, Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi itself.

Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan is also the chairman of International Petroleum Investment Company, a firm that owns a majority stake in Aabar.

His half-brother Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan is the chairman of Etihad Airways.

Local banks have also been swooping in to form partnerships with popular English football clubs to tap into the burgeoning soccer fan following in the UAE.

Manchester City inked a three-year deal with Abu Dhabi’s FGB last year to launch an official credit card for the club.

Emirates NBD recently signed a five-year partnership deal with Manchester United under which the lender would launch MU co-branded credit, debit and pre-paid cards in the UAE.

The bank introduced additional terms to this partnership recently by including a savings account and debit cards. The savings account will initially pay an interest rate of 0.25 to 0.50 per cent, based on the number of goals scored by the club.