5 Of Emirates’ Most Notable Sporting Partnerships

While Dubai-based Emirates Airlines has built a strong brand for itself within the aviation world in the past few decades, the carrier is also well known within the sporting world with its portfolio of partnerships with some of the best teams in the world across various sports, especially soccer!

The following is a list of 5 of Emirates’ most notable partnerships within the world of soccer.

1

Real Madrid – The Champions of Europe

Spanish giants Real Madrid ended the 2023-2024 season by winning both the Spanish League and the European Champions League.

Emirates and Real Madrid formed a partnership in 2011. In 2013, Emirates became the club’s main partner, and the airline’s name appeared on the Spanish club’s jersey for the first time. During the past 13 years of partnership, the club has dazzled the world of soccer by winning titles such as La Liga, UEFA European Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, and a staggering five UEFA Champions League titles.

Over the years, Emirates has had various Real Madrid liveries on different Airbus A380s within the airline’s fleet and has hosted the team onboard their aircraft for memorable adverts. The carrier has also operated charter flights for the Real Madrid team and management when traveling outside Europe on special occasions and matches.

While at the moment, none of Emirates’ aircraft feature a Real Madrid livery, in the past, four of the airline’s A380s have had the honor of flying around the world featuring special liveries for the Spanish club.

2

Arsenal – Record for most FA Cup titles

Having commenced the partnership in 2006, Emirates and Arsenal are now a recognizable pair, with the airline even having the naming rights to Arsenal’s home stadium – The Emirates Stadium. Arsenal is one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League and has won the FA Cup a record 14 times.

Over the years, the airline has also featured special Arsenal liveries on its Boeing 777 aircraft and the Airbus A380s, showcasing their long-standing partnership by flying these aircraft worldwide.

In the past, Emirates has featured the Arsenal livery on one of its Boeing 777s and two of its larger A380s.

Arsenal also hosts the Emirates Cup at its home stadium every year. In this tournament, clubs sponsored by Emirates play against other top-tier soccer clubs across various European leagues, inviting over 100,000 fans to the Emirates Stadium.

Related

Emirates Extends Partnership With Arsenal Through 2028

A four-year extension for the long-running partnership.

3

AC Milan – The Italian Maestro

AC Milan has the second-most Champions League titles, with seven trophies, behind only Real Madrid.

Since first signing the agreement in 2007, the club and the airline have had a successful partnership for the past 17 years. The partnership was heightened further when Emirates became the main sponsor and front-of-shirt sponsor starting the 2010/2011 season. As per the extension signed two years ago, the partnership will last until 2028.

As part of the partnership, the airline also maintains strong branding at AC Milan’s home stadium – San Siro. Such branding strategies of placing the airline name on stadiums and club jerseys are an easy way for the airline to connect with pre-existing fanbases and attract them to try out the airline.

In true Emirates fashion, AC Milan has also had a special livery made for them and featured in one of the airline’s A380s, A6-EET.

Like how the partnership with the Italian club is important to Emirates, the airline also sees Italy as an important destination and serves four of the country’s gateways with over 40 weekly flights in total.

4

S.L. Benfica – Most decorated Portuguese Club

With over 80 titles across various competitions, Benfica holds a real legacy and success in Portugal’s Primeira Liga.

Holding the record for the most number of league titles, Benfica has won the Portuguese league 38 times and has one of the largest fan bases in the country. The club and the airline entered the partnership in 2015, and for the past nine years, the airline has been the club’s front-of-shirt sponsor.

Photo: Mike Fuchslocher | Shutterstock

The airline has previously featured the club’s livery on one of its Boeing 777-300ERs, A6-EPA. Additionally, Emirates, in its usual winning style, has also put on pre-match displays for fans of S.L. Benfica.

Portugal is another important area for Emirates, and by entering into a partnership with Portugal’s most celebrated soccer club, the airline has been able to experience growth within the market. In fact, a year after announcing the partnership, Emirates doubled its services to the Portuguese capital – Lisbon, and even has a partnership with TAP Air Portugal.

Related

Getting Closer: Emirates Grows Partnership With TAP Air Portugal

5

The Emirates FA Cup

The FA Cup is the world’s oldest and largest domestic soccer tournament.

Being one of the most popular soccer competitions in England, the matches draw a wide variety of fan bases for its matches. Encompassing some of the largest teams to non-league teams, the competition attracts the teams and their fans together, creating an excellent stadium atmosphere.

Since the 2015/2016 season, Emirates has been the Title Partner for the competition, resulting in the FA Cup being known as the Emirates FA Cup since then. The airline’s partnership agreement ended this season, which raises the question of whether the partnership will be renewed.

The airline in 2016 also celebrated this partnership by giving one of its A380s, A6-EER, a special FA Cup livery.

Apart from the FA Cup, the airline also sponsors the UAE Pro League and has previously sponsored the FIFA World Cup. The airline also sponsors two more teams and has sponsored three other soccer teams in the past.

Not just soccer, Emirates, being a global airline, ensures its presence in various sports around the world, including cricket, rugby, tennis, golf, and more.

Do you support any team sponsored by Emirates? Let us know in the comments below.