Emirates and Real Madrid get together

Emirates Airline, the largest airline in the Middle East, has entered into a five-year sponsorship deal with the world's richest football club Real Madrid. According to the deal Emirates becomes a partner and the official airline to the world's most successful football club. The sponsorship includes providing Emirates international brand visibility at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and Real Madrid City and hospitality rights worldwide. “Emirates is a world-renowned company that has always respected and valued sport. The airline shares our belief in loyalty, effort, commitment and innovation and these common principles will create a special understanding. We strongly believe this is a strategic alliance bridging us with our many followers all over the world," Florentino Perez, president of Real Madrid. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said, "Adding Real Madrid to our European football sponsorship line-up further enhances a superb list of European teams that we support including Arsenal, HSV, PSG, AC Milan and Olympiacos." The latest sponsorship comes at a crucial time. Emirates launched flights to Madrid on August 1 last year.