Emirates Secures Multi-Year Deal with European Professional Club Rugby
Emirates has announced a major multi-year partnership with European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), becoming the Premium Partner and Official Airline Partner of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup.
The new deal strengthens Emirates' global rugby footprint and cements its status as a leading supporter of the sport. By aligning with EPCR's two premier tournaments, the Dubai-based airline will tap into a global fanbase of more than 70 million and elevate its brand presence across elite club competitions in Europe and South Africa.
This partnership marks a strategic expansion of Emirates' already extensive rugby sponsorship portfolio, which includes six consecutive Rugby World Cups and a strong focus on grassroots development in the UAE. Emirates aims to leverage the EPCR platform to engage fans, support local communities, and promote the sport among youth through community initiatives.
Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates, called the partnership a natural step, adding, 'We're eager to support local initiatives for younger athletes that will make a positive impact both in and out of the pitch.'
EPCR Chairman Dominic McKay welcomed the airline, noting, 'Emirates' heritage in rugby enhances the profile of our tournaments. Together, we'll expand reach and invest in rugby's future through sustainable, community-focused efforts.'
The Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup feature 42 top-tier clubs from eight countries, competing each season for European club rugby's highest honours.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
19 minutes ago
- The National
Clean start: UAE hotel soaps recycled in drive to cut waste and boost hygiene
Each year, hotels across the UAE throw away an estimated 16 million bars of soap – many after just a single use. Now, a growing number of hotels are signing up to a grassroots recycling programme that is tackling the waste head-on, transforming used soap into new bars for communities in need. Launched in 2023, the Unisoap UAE initiative – powered by sustainability platform Goumbook and modelled on a French non-profit – is offering a rare win-win: cutting hospitality waste while boosting hygiene access for vulnerable groups. 'It's a practical solution that serves both people and planet,' says Goumbook founder Tatiana Antonelli Abella. 'And it's gaining momentum.' So far, Goumbook has distributed 10,000 recycled soaps under the initiative. Leading hotel brands supporting the campaign include Atlantis Dubai - which operates Atlantis, The Palm and Atlantis The Royal - Saadiyat Rotana and Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers. "We are proud to partner with Goumbook and Unisoap UAE to help transform soap that would otherwise be destined for the landfill into new soap bars for disadvantaged communities,' said Kelly Timmins, director of marine animal operations and sustainability at Atlantis Dubai, in a testimony shared on Goumbook's website. From luxury waste to vital resource Globally, 2.3 billion people still lack basic handwashing facilities at home, according to the World Health Organisation. Yet, in hotel suites across the world, soaps are routinely tossed out after a single use. 'We realised that soap is not just waste, it's a resource made from water and natural materials and it's vital for hygiene,' Ms Abella told The National. After early experiments with local start-ups, Goumbook formed a strategic partnership with Unisoap in France, leveraging its technical expertise to launch the UAE arm of the project. Today, the initiative works with 15 hotels, including major names such as Atlantis The Palm, Atlantis The Royal, Shangri-La Dubai, Rotana Saadiyat and Centara Mirage, with more coming on board. How soap is recycled Housekeeping staff are trained to separate used soaps into branded Unisoap boxes. These are collected monthly by recycling partners, then delivered to a soap lab where each bar undergoes a meticulous cleaning process: the outer layer is grated off by hand, soaps are thoroughly washed and then remanufactured – without mixing brands, colours or scents. 'The result is a high-quality bar that looks and smells just like new,' said Ms Abella. 'And crucially, there's no plastic or packaging involved.' Zero waste, big impact In keeping with World Environment Day's 2025 theme – cutting single-use plastic – Unisoap UAE goes beyond soap. Used hotel bed linens and towels are repurposed into washbags or reusable sponges to accompany the soaps in hygiene kits, distributed unpackaged to eliminate waste. The initiative reflects the UAE's increasing alignment with circular economy principles and environmental goals. 'We've designed this project to work hand in hand with national sustainability targets,' said Ms Abella. 'It's a practical solution that creates both environmental and social value.' So far, more than three tonnes of soap have been recycled through the initiative, benefiting low-income communities during Ramadan, as well as organisations such as the Al Ihsan Foundation in Sharjah, the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, the Giving Family, Amal Community and Happy Happy. Empowering women and educating communities The social impact is just as important as the environmental one. Unisoap UAE targets women and children as key recipients, and engages women in every level of the process – from hotel housekeeping staff to charity partners and end users. 'We often forget that not everyone has access to something as basic as soap,' said Ms Abella. 'Through this initiative, we also raise awareness about hygiene – how and why it matters.' The project operates through a combination of hotel contributions and corporate sponsorships. Sponsors can fund the production and distribution of soaps to specific communities while Goumbook covers early-stage costs to prove concepts and scale up. There are also plans ready to expand the model to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where interest is growing. Call to action: Join the circular economy To mark the Year of Community, Goumbook is organising clean-ups and community events across the UAE and is inviting residents to volunteer, donate or share ideas for future projects. Soap is just one piece of the puzzle, said Ms Abella. 'If we can change how we view waste – whether it's a bar of soap or a discarded towel – we can make a real difference. And we'd love more people to join us.'
Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Pakistan's largest private developer to build 'gigantic Eiffel Tower'
Pakistan's largest private developer BT Properties forayed into the UAE with an inaugural multi-million dollar project in Dubai South which will house a gigantic Eiffel Tower. Located in Dubai South, prices for apartments in the master-planned community Waada start from Dh460,000 and townhouses and villas at Dh2.7 million. 'The market response has been exceptional, with studios and one-bedroom apartments already sold out…Waada features a mix of residential units, including apartments, townhouses, and villas. The master plan also incorporates retail spaces, wellness facilities, educational institutions, and community centres to provide a holistic living experience,' said Ahmad Ali Riaz Malik, group CEO of BT Properties. He said development work will commence soon and the project will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2028. He elaborated that the Waada will house 'unique landmarks within the community be it the life-size Istanbul mosque or a resized gigantic Eiffel Tower". BT Properties has a presence across Pakistan's major cities including Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. The developer has developed master communities under Bahria Town, which houses thousands of families. He anticipated that the project would attract interest from overseas Pakistani investors, among others, due to the trust that the brand has established over the years. 'Every city we developed was built on trust, every road on resilience, and every home on hope,' said Malik Riaz Hussain, chairman and founder of BT Properties.
Arabian Business
2 hours ago
- Arabian Business
Dubai's FIVE Holdings mulls IPO and listing in London or New York: Report
FIVE Holdings, the Dubai-based company that owns the FIVE brand of hotels, is said to be considering listing in London or New York, according to a Reuters report. Founder and Chairman Kabir Mulchandani, who has targeted a 2025 IPO for the past couple of years, had previously spoken of a primary listing in Dubai and a secondary listing in one of the international markets. The Reuters report cites three people with knowledge of the matter. Five Holdings IPO FIVE Holdings did not respond to Reuters' request for comments, but the agency said that London could be a strong candidate, given a majority of clients at FIVE's Ibiza clubs are British nationals and that business generates significant revenues for the group. In November 2023, FIVE Holdings acquired a 100 per cent equity interest in the Pacha Group, in a deal valued at €302.5m ($345m). That same year, Muchandani spoke about the IPO for the first time and said: 'The plan right now is 2025. For us, we are very well capitalised now, the goal is to continue to improve our transparency and our governance, to do the investor calls on a quarterly basis and to act like a public company, before we become a become a public company, and not to raise money and then figure out what to do. 'There are always a lot of advisors saying, look at Dubai, but also look at another international market. I think that may not be the correct advice to take it forward. 'The way the Dubai capital markets is developing over the last few years, it is entirely possible. At the end of the day, even though we are global, we are a made-in-Dubai company. So, for us, being part of Dubai capital markets is a critical part of our story.' Mulchandani also said that the IPO was very important for FIVE Holdings because of the employee stock options programme that it was rolling out. 'One of the major reasons why we would like to do this is because we are launching a very, very important employee stock option program,' said Mulchandani. 'A significant portion of the company is going to be dedicated to the employees over time. And this is not just the C-suite, not the CEOs and the senior people. This is down to the person who is going to bring your bags up to your rooms. 'It's a very widely distributed stock. The goal is to make sure that they have the liquidity and see what the value of the work and the effort they're putting in.' The company and its advisers are planning to start the listing process by the end of the year, two of the people in know told Reuters. The three people spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly.
