Abu Dhabi Airports Company has become the latest global brand to partner with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after agreeing an exciting new deal to support the AFC’s national teams and club competitions.
The agreement was formally signed by H E Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the AFC President, and Abu Dhabi Airports Company Chairman, H E Ali Majed Al Mansoori, at an official ceremony at Al Bateen Executive Airport in the United Arab Emirates capital today.
Abu Dhabi Airports Company will now be the official sponsor of the 2018 FIFA World Cup – Asian Qualifiers, Final Round and will be a partner at other national team competitions including the Asian Cup 2019, to be held in the United Arab Emirates, as well as the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup.
Shaikh Salman said: “The Asian Football Confederation is pleased to welcome Abu Dhabi Airports Company as an official sponsor for our national team and club competitions. The AFC competitions are growing rapidly in terms of audiences, excitement and fixtures. More people are watching live in stadia and on television than ever before.
“For global brands such as Abu Dhabi Airports Company, the AFC competitions provide an opportunity to promote – and share – the game’s strength and popularity in Asia. In the AFC Vision and Mission, we set the target of engaging with more and more fans to reinforce our position as the number one sport in Asia. This sort of cooperation helps with that objective. We look forward to a fruitful and mutually beneficial partnership with Abu Dhabi Airports Company.”
Abu Dhabi Airports Company Chairman, H E Ali Majed Al Mansoori, added: “Abu Dhabi Airports’ sponsorship of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will enhance our growing international profile as a world-class global travel hub, connecting the vibrant nations of Asia with the rest of the world, via our home in Abu Dhabi, while supporting the increasing popularity of football in Asia. We look forward to working with the AFC and the benefits that this new partnership will bring to both entities.”
About the AFC:
The AFC has 46 Member Associations and one Associate Member and its headquarters are in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Formed in 1954, the AFC is the governing body for football in Asia. It organises national team and club competitions for both men and women, including the AFC Asian Cup, the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup. The AFC’s Vision and Mission, launched under the banner of ‘One Asia, One Goal’, sets the target for the AFC to become a leading global football confederation.
About Abu Dhabi Airports:
Abu Dhabi Airports is a public joint-stock company wholly owned by the Abu Dhabi Government. It was incorporated by Amiri Decree number 5, issued on 4 March 2006, to spearhead the development of the Emirate’s aviation infrastructure. In September 2006, Abu Dhabi Airports assumed responsibility for the operation and management of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain International Airports. In 2008, Abu Dhabi Airports added Al Bateen Executive Airport (an exclusive business aviation airport), as well as Sir Bani Yas and Delma Island Airports to its portfolio. These airports are geared to serve the various segments of air travelers, the aviation marketplace, and will help contribute to Abu Dhabi’s development as a destination for both business and leisure tourism.
Currently under way is the multi-billion dollar re-development and expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport designed to increase the overall capacity of the airport to more than 45 million passengers per year. As part of this redevelopment, a second runway and a third terminal have been completed.
