Barcelona boosts Middle East presence with Fitness Time

Spanish Liga football club Barcelona has agreed a regional sponsorship deal with fitness centre chain Fitness Time in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The deal is for the next three years and runs until 2018.

Fitness Time becomes Barcelona’s second sponsor in Saudi Arabia after the Samba Financial Group, while it joins telecommunications firm Etisalat and United Arab Bank in its portfolio of UAE partners.

Under the terms, Fitness Time will promote and sponsor the first FCB Escola youth football academy in Saudi Arabia. After the initial FCB Escola in Riyadh, further academies are expected to be established elsewhere in the country.