Etisalat today signed a memorandum of understanding for a four-year sponsorship deal with UAE Team Emirates, the first UAE World Tour cycling team.

Sultan Al Daheri, General Manager, Abu Dhabi Region, signed the MoU on behalf of Etisalat; and Mauro Gianetti, UAE Team Emirates' CEO signed on behalf of UAE Team Emirates, in the presence of senior officials from both parties.

Al Daheri said: "We are thrilled to be the official sponsor of UAE Team Emirates, reinforcing our deep commitment to major sporting events in the UAE and internationally, and to our growing customer base. This partnership reflects our brand association in the sports sector, highlights the positive bond between the brand and consumer, and is aligned with our objective of positioning the UAE as a leading country in the worlds sports map."

Gianetti commented: "Everyone at UAE Team Emirates is committed to growing a culture of health and wellness across the region. Over the past five years we have been able to positively contribute to the local community by inspiring and enabling cycling at all levels and this wouldn't be possible without the ongoing support of our partners.  We are proud to welcome Etisalat into the UAE Team Emirates family and look forward to working together to achieve our joint objectives over the 2022 season and beyond."

UAE Team Emirates entered the highest level of professional cycling, the World Tour, in early 2017. The team aims to represent an entire nation, the UAE, and promote a healthy lifestyle linked to the use of the bicycle. Season after season, the Emirati team has attracted a growing number of world-class riders and quality sponsors, taking them to new heights and successes in the biggest races in the world. The team has won successive Tour de France titles and boasts of the world's top-ranked road cyclist Tadej Pogacar.