Residents say Emirates Airlines has best brand image in UAE

DUBAI, 1st February, 2016 (WAM) -- Emirates Airlines has by far the best brand image in the UAE, according to research carried out by Dubai-based integrated communications agency, IHC. According to the YouGov survey of over 1,000 UAE residents, asked which brands they feel has the best image in the country, 43% chose Emirates, with competitor, Etihad Airways, coming in second with 14% of the votes. Telecommunications provider Etisalat came in third (10%) and online marketplaces, Souq.com and Dubizzle, tied with 8%. Emirates NBD topped the list of UAE banks with 7%. Consumer electronics retailer, Sharaf DG came in seventh with 4% of votes and, with 3%, budget carrier Fly Dubai pipped Air Arabia on 2%. UAE University was the highest ranked educational institution with 2% of the votes. Emirates has reaped the rewards from its well-publicised 2010 plans to increase its communications budget as part of its global expansion strategy to nearly Dh1 billion, including sponsorship, advertising and PR. Ian Hainey, IHC’s managing director, said, "Emirates is often lauded as the fastest-growing airline in the world and its rise to become one of the world’s biggest carriers within three decades has happened in conjunction with its aggressive marketing campaigns and, in particular, phenomenal investment into sports sponsorship." IHC is an integrated communications agency, delivering PR, digital and experiential marketing through operations in Dubai and London. – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/general/1395290949915.html