MENA

Fast food restaurant McDonald’s’ franchisee programme sees each store contribute a cash fee to the brand’s global sponsorships of the Olympic Games and the World Cup, Thomas Truttmann, head of sports at McDonald’s Europe told Sports Sponsorship Insider.

Carmaker Audi’s far-reaching involvement in winter sports sits as one of four cornerstones in the brand’s wider sponsorship approach, Florian Zitzlsperger, head of sports marketing at Audi, told Sports Sponsorship Insider. The three remaining cornerstones in Audi’s wider strategy are: motorsport, football and golf.

Brand perception is at the forefront of energy company BP’s decision to become an International Partner of the International Paralympic Committee, Mike Sharrock, partnership director for Olympics and Paralympics at BP, told Sports Sponsorship Insider this month.

Qatari private investment company QIPCO Holdings has increased its presence in British horse racing through a wide-ranging five-year deal to become the first ever official partner of Royal Ascot.

Airport retailer Dubai Duty Free has signed a deal with the Golf in Dubai organisation to extend its status as a patron of the Dubai Desert Classic European Tour event for another three years.

Qatar’s local organising committee for the 2015 Men’s Handball World Championship has sealed a sponsorship agreement to promote its event at the sport’s Men’s EHF Euro 2014 competition.

UAE banking group Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank has signed a three-year extension of its sponsorship of the Arabian Gulf League football competition.

The Qatari subsidiary of US multinational oil and gas corporation ExxonMobil has renewed its title sponsorship of the Qatar Open for the ATP World Tour tennis event’s 2014 edition.

The Oman Football Association has signed a four-year commercial partnership with Japanese automotive manufacturer Mazda.

Abu Dhabi-based banking group First Gulf Bank has secured a three-year shirt sponsorship deal with Arabian Gulf League football team Al Ain

Industrial company Dubai Aluminium (Dubal) has extended its sponsorship of the Dubai Desert Classic and Dubai Ladies Masters golf tournaments for the next three years.

The Qatar Football Association has agreed a one-year deal with Aamal to sponsor the men's national team and various QFA competitions during the 2013-14 season.

Fifa marketing director Thierry Weil expects brands from five sectors to take up the majority of the federation’s new Regional Supporter sponsorships: insurance, telecommunications, railways/ground transportation, logistics and real estate.

The Qatar Football Association has signed a four-year partnership with the national subsidiary of Anglo-Dutch multinational oil and gas company Shell.

Spanish Liga football club Real Madrid has signed a five-year extension to its sponsorship deal, from 2013-14 to 2017-18, with Saudi Telecom.

Italian beverage company San Pellegrino has agreed a deal to become an official supplier for the 2013 DP World Tour Championship, the season finale of golf’s European Tour.

French Ligue 1 football club Paris Saint-Germain has officially unveiled its lucrative sponsorship deal with Qatar Tourism Authority and has denied that the controversial agreement infringes upon Financial Fair Play regulations.

UAE Pro League football club Al Ain has announced a long-term kit deal with US sportswear giant Nike.