UAE Rivals Al Ain And Al Jazira Sports Club Sign Sponsorships With Infrastructure Builders

Former Asian Football Confederation Champions League winners Al Ain has "roped in Khalifa Port as official sponsors" during its campaign in the AFC Champions League this year, according to Satya Narayan of GULF NEWS. The deal will mean the defending UAE Pro-League champions "will sport the logo of the Abu Dhabi Ports Company, represented by Khalifa Port." Al Ain Football Club Chair Shaikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Bin Khalid Al Nahyan said that the deal "was only for Al Ain’s AFC Champions League matches" (GULF NEWS, 2/25). Meanwhile, Al Ain rival Al Jazira Sports Club has signed a three-year deal with Etihad Rail. Etihad Rail will become the club's strategic sponsor for the next three years and will have branding placement rights at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium and on team jerseys, among other marketing benefits (THE NATIONAL, 2/25).