Emirates Airline Extends Partnership with UAE Team Emirates XRG Until 2028
Emirates Airline and UAE Team Emirates XRG have announced the extension of their partnership, solidifying the airline's position as one of the main naming partners for the cycling team through the 2028 season.
As part of the agreement, the Emirates logo will continue to appear on the team's jerseys and shorts, reinforcing the longstanding collaboration that began in 2017.
Emirates' involvement marked the UAE's entry into international cycling, supporting the team's rise on the global stage. Since then, UAE Team Emirates XRG has become a powerhouse in the professional cycling arena, with over 250 international wins, including three Tour de France titles, a Giro d'Italia victory, and a UCI World Championship gold. The team has cemented its reputation as a top contender, closing the 2024 season with 81 wins and ranking as the top team in the UCI World Tour for 2023 and 2024.
Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates, expressed pride in the partnership's success, noting how it has helped elevate the UAE's status in global cycling. Mauro Gianetti, CEO & Team Principal of UAE Team Emirates XRG, also highlighted the importance of Emirates' support in the team's achievements.
The partnership includes continued visibility on team kits, vehicles, and digital platforms, along with exclusive hospitality and promotional opportunities. Both entities have also worked together on various community initiatives, such as the Dubai Fitness Challenge.
The team now sets its sights on the upcoming UAE Tour, further solidifying the UAE's growing prominence in professional cycling.
News Source: Dubai Media Office
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
44 minutes ago
- The National
Eid greeting stamp issued to visitors arriving in Dubai
Visitors arriving in Dubai during the Eid Al Adha holiday are being greeted by a special welcome stamp bearing the phrase "Eid in Dubai". The motif features a unique design created by Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Dubai Media Office. For public and private sector workers in the UAE, Eid Al Adha this year is marked by a long weekend. Employees have been granted leave from Thursday June 5 to Sunday June 8, with work resuming on Monday June 9. Public and private sector staff in the Emirates are typically allocated the same number of public holidays each year. What is Eid Al Adha? Eid Al Adha – which means 'festival of the sacrifice' – is the latter of the two Eid holidays celebrated across the Arab world, coming after Eid Al Fitr. Eid Al Adha commemorates how the Prophet Ibrahim was asked by God in a dream to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as a test of his faith. As with other religious holidays in the Emirates, it is a time for friends and family to gather, often over meals, and reflect on their lives and faith. Eid around the world in pictures
Gulf Today
5 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Pogacar to lead Team Emirates-XRG charge at Criterium du Dauphine
UAE Team Emirates-XRG have announced their rider selection for the upcoming Criterium du Dauphine, taking place from June 9–15. The race will serve as a crucial test ahead of the Tour de France, with Tadej Pogacar set to lead a strong and versatile squad through the week-long race in the French Alps. Pogacar returns to competition after a high-altitude training camp with his teammates and a commanding spring campaign, which included seven victories. The Dauphine will mark a key step in his build-up to July. Pogacar said: 'We've just come off a really solid block of altitude training with the team and I'm feeling good. The legs are there, and the motivation is high. It's been a few years since I've been to the Dauphine, and we're excited to be there and racing again after many weeks of training all together. 'We have a very good ambience in the group, and we're ready to pin on race numbers and show what we can do.' The seven-man squad will be guided by Sports Directors Andrej Hauptman (Slo), Marco Marcato (Ita) and Marco Marzano (Ita). The team brings a balanced line-up of climbing specialists, experienced domestiques, and all-rounders to support Pogacar across the race's demanding terrain. Meanwhile, on stage 3 of the Tour of Slovenia, Sebastian Molano sprinted to second place for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, narrowly missing out on the day's victory to Dylan Groenewegen of Jayco AlUla. The Colombian launched his sprint with 300m to go, but ultimately came up just short in the uphill kick to the line. Earlier in the stage, Antanio Morgado and Rune Herregodts had kept their leaders safe and out of trouble, as the sun lashed the peloton with a searing heat. With bottles of water aplenty, the peloton went about its business from Majsperk to Ormoz, showing little concern for the threat that came from out front. Initially numbering six riders, the day's breakaway was best represented by Nejc Komac (Factory Racing) in the finale. The Slovene youngster made a daring bid to ride alone to the finish, but was ultimately caught inside the final 3km. It was a fine effort from Komac, who came close to pulling off an unlikely victory. With the breakaway mopped up, UAE Team Emirates-XRG's Rui and Ivo Oliveira piloted Molano towards the front of the bunch, and it was the 30-year-old who opened up his sprint first. Hitting the front with a little over 300m to ride, Molano delivered a great turn of speed and initially looked to have enough to hang on. However, it was Groenewegen who benefited from a slightly later launch, riding his way to a second stage victory of the week. Behind the fireworks, Felix Großschartner remained out of danger and cruised over the line, putting himself into a handy position heading into Saturday's summit finish. The Austrian sits in fifth place overall and will hope to stretch his legs over the weekend. Molano: 'It was really close today. In the end, I did not see Ivo preparing his lead-out on the right-hand side of the road, and this is why I launched a little early. The finish was a bit uphill and with such a long kick, it was hard to hold on. 'It's a shame not to get the victory because I know how close I am. Groenewegen is strong but today I had the legs. With some better luck, it was ours. Anyway, we have two more opportunities to chase the victory, so we will give it everything,' he added. Tour of Slovenia has been become a happy hunting ground for UAE Team Emirates-XRG in recent years, showcasing their strength and consistency on the international stage. The team's impressive run began in 2019, when the experienced Italian rider Diego Ulissi powered to victory with a tactically brilliant performance. Building on that success, the spotlight then shifted to Slovenian superstar Pogacar, who thrilled fans by winning his home race in both 2021 and 2022.
Khaleej Times
7 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Vertical farming in the UAE: Fresh, clean, and grown by code
In a country better known for sand dunes than salad bowls, something quietly radical is growing behind glass walls. Inside brightly lit, climate-controlled farms, tomatoes ripen untouched by pesticides, and lettuce flourishes in vertical towers; no soil, no sunlight, no tractors. This isn't traditional farming; it's agriculture reimagined for the 21st century. No dirt under your nails. No crop seasons to worry about. Just smart tech feeding smart cities. Once dismissed as futuristic novelties, vertical farms are now rising in malls, warehouses, and hotel rooftops across the Emirates. They're feeding more than just a population — they're feeding a movement for cleaner, smarter, more sustainable food. At a time of water scarcity and climate disruption, the UAE isn't just adapting, it's innovating. As told to BTR magazine, both UNS Vertical Farms and Pure Harvest Smart Farms are reshaping how the UAE thinks about agriculture and food doesn't have to grow from the ground anymore — sometimes, it grows from innovation. And somehow — it tastes even better. Less water, more yield Ask anyone in agriculture and they'll tell you: water is everything. Which is precisely why the 90% reduction in water usage by vertical farms feels like a game changer — especially in a place like the UAE, where every drop counts. 'At UNS Farms, we run a closed-loop hydroponic system,' says Mehlam Murtaza, Executive Director at UNS Vertical Farms. 'That means water isn't lost to the soil or evaporated — it's recycled and reused. We deliver exactly what the plant needs, directly to the roots. No more, no less.' Instead of sprawling fields, UNS builds up — using vertical racks that multiply their yield per square meter. Combine that with a climate-controlled environment and you get high-output farming that's unaffected by the region's sweltering heat or unreliable rainfall. 'We've essentially engineered a micro-climate inside our farms,' Murtaza adds. 'It's about growing smarter, not just harder.' A farm without pesticides Walk through a UNS facility or Pure Harvest greenhouse, and you'll notice something odd: no chemicals. Zero. Not even the so-called 'safe' ones. For both companies, removing pesticides isn't just a marketing angle — it's a pillar of their sustainability ethos. 'We operate like we're guarding a castle,' says Sky Kurtz, CEO and Founder of Pure Harvest Smart Farms. 'Our climate-controlled, closed-loop system keeps pests out. And if something does get in, we don't reach for chemicals — we bring in beneficial insects or other natural interventions.' Pure Harvest leans into integrated pest management (IPM), a method that prioritizes balance over eradication. In short, it's about working with nature rather than against it. UNS, meanwhile, takes a similarly holistic route. 'It's about early detection, sanitation, and rotating crops regularly,' says Murtaza. 'When you have full control over your growing environment, you don't need to rely on chemicals. And that's better for the planet — and for people.' Both companies back their methods with international certifications, like HACCP and ISO 22000:2018, reassuring consumers that 'chemical-free' doesn't mean 'risky.' In fact, it means the opposite. Farms in malls, not fields There's something captivating about watching lettuce grow in the middle of a luxury mall or seeing a vertical herb garden inside a five-star hotel. It's not just for show. For UNS, these collaborations are part of a larger mission: making farming visible, accessible, and even stylish. 'When we bring vertical farms into public spaces, it changes the way people think about agriculture,' Murtaza explains. 'It's not something distant or industrial — it's fresh, it's here, it's part of your daily life.' The company's green installations — whether on a mall wall or in a restaurant lobby — spark conversations and curiosity. And that's exactly the point. Pure Harvest takes a slightly different route. Rather than public installations, they connect with consumers through transparency. 'We use QR codes on our packaging so people can trace exactly where and how their food was grown,' says Kurtz. 'We share videos, behind-the-scenes farm content, and speak openly about our practices. Because people care — and they're asking smarter questions.' Conscious consumers are here to stay And those smarter questions are reshaping the market. In recent years, there's been a clear shift in the UAE's grocery habits, especially among millennials and Gen Z. No longer content with labels like 'organic' or 'fresh,' these buyers want to know the full story behind their food. 'Consumers are now willing to pay a bit more for food that's not only good for them but good for the planet,' Kurtz says. 'There's a real hunger — pun intended — for climate-conscious, zero-mile produce.' According to him, tomatoes, leafy greens, and strawberries are leading the demand for clean, local, pesticide-free food. These are everyday staples — proof that sustainability isn't just for specialty items anymore. 'We're not just selling produce,' Kurtz adds. 'We're selling trust.' Tech at the root At the heart of this movement is technology. From moisture sensors to automated nutrient dosing systems, both UNS and Pure Harvest rely heavily on smart tools to keep their farms efficient and scalable. 'Automation reduces human error and ensures consistency,' Kurtz says. 'But more importantly, it helps us grow the same quality of produce year-round, even in the brutal heat of August.' IoT systems monitor everything — light levels, humidity, nutrient balance, CO2 levels — and make minute adjustments in real time. This allows farms to optimise every input while producing 10–15 times more food per square metre than conventional farms. Kurtz calls this approach 'veridical farming'— not just vertical, but truthful. 'We don't make vague claims,' he says. 'We show the numbers. That's what our customers, our partners, and our investors want.' A national priority The UAE isn't just watching from the sidelines — it's actively supporting this new wave of agriculture. With food security ranked as a top national priority, and a goal to reduce dependence on imports, innovations in vertical and hydroponic farming fit neatly into the government's broader vision. Controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) is seen as a long-term solution to climate stress, population growth, and unpredictable global food supply chains. And in many ways, companies like UNS and Pure Harvest aren't just riding that wave — they're helping shape it. The future is up As urban populations swell, farmland shrinks, and climate concerns intensify, the question is no longer if vertical farming is the answer—but how fast it can scale to meet growing demand. In the UAE, it's not just a futuristic experiment. It's happening now, behind glass walls, under LED lights, and in places no one expected—shopping malls, hotel rooftops, even within logistics hubs. These farms don't just grow food—they grow resilience. They bring agriculture closer to the plate, cut the carbon miles, and give consumers confidence in what they're eating. They're a quiet but powerful rebuttal to the belief that sustainable food production isn't possible in arid, resource-scarce regions. For pioneers like Pure Harvest and UNS Farms, the work is far from done. Their eyes are firmly set on the next phase: scaling up, improving affordability, expanding crop diversity, and helping the region move one step closer to food independence. But beyond the metrics and machinery, there's something profoundly human about this shift. It's about reconnecting with what we eat, about feeding growing cities without depleting the planet—and doing it with intention, intelligence, and integrity. So, the next time you're biting into a crisp local salad in the UAE, consider this: it may have never touched soil, never seen a pesticide, and never traveled more than a few kilometers. And yet, it may just be the most grounded thing on your plate. The future of food isn't out in the fields anymore. It's growing up. What's Growing in the UAE's High-Tech Farms No soil? No problem. Crisp greens and juicy tomatoes grow vertically — in towers, not fields. Soil's out, science is in. 90% less water, 100% more wow Hydroponics and closed-loop systems mean each drop is reused. It's farming tailor-made for the desert. Pesticide-free, planet-friendly No sprays, no chemicals. Just clean produce grown in sealed, climate-controlled environments. Farming without sunlight LEDs mimic daylight so precisely, plants don't miss the sun — and they thrive indoors, 24/7. Lettuce in the lobby? Yes, please. UNS puts vertical farms in malls and hotels. It's fresh, flashy, and fabulously futuristic. QR codes tell all Scan your salad — Pure Harvest lets you trace every tomato to its tech-savvy roots. Farming on auto-pilot AI, sensors, and smart climate tools run the show — ensuring perfect crops every single day. No bugs, no drama Natural pest control and integrated systems mean no creepy crawlies — and no harsh fixes. Certified clean HACCP, ISO, and Global GAP certifications mean safe food that's as trustworthy as it is tasty. Rooted in national strategy The UAE is investing big in smart farms to feed its future — no imports, just innovation.
