Timeline: The sporting sponsorships that put the UAE on the map
Timeline: How Emirates and Etihad built an impressive portfolio of sponsorship deals
2004: Emirates airline, Arsenal, deal until 2019
One of the first sponsorship deals struck by the Dubai-based airline which has since gone on to sponsor multiple sporting events and teams in various parts of the world.
2006: Emirates airline, Paris Saint Germain, deal until 2019
The French Ligue 1 may not be up there with their English or Spanish counterparts but since Emirates signed, some of the biggest names in world football have since moved to the club.
2010: Etihad Airways, Manchester City, deal until 2022
In what is easily one of the biggest sponsorship deals with a top football club, the Abu Dhabi-based airline sees its logo displayed proudly on the shirts of a side whose fortunes have dramatically soared since it was taken over by Abu Dhabi back in 2008.
2010: Emirates airline, AC Milan, deal until 2019
The famous Italian side signed the mega deal with much fanfare, sporting the by then famous logo on the team shirts.
2013: Emirates airline, Real Madrid, deal until 2018
As if getting one multiple Champions League winner in AC Milan wasn’t enough, Emirates then went for the most famous club of them all, signing a five-year deal with Los Blancos.
Biggest UAE acquisitions
2008: Manchester City, England
2013: New York City FC, USA
2014: Melbourne City FC, Australia
2014: Yokohama F Marinos, Japan
