UAE's Etihad Airways to sponsor Manchester City FC for 3 years

Manchester, UK - Etihad Airways, the Abu Dhabi-based national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has become the official shirt sponsor and partner of English Premier League side, Manchester City, according to a three-year deal signed today at the Manchester City Stadium in, Manchester, UK Accordingly, the Etihad Airways brand logo will appear on Manchester City shirts from the summer for 3 years.
The partnership is initially for three years and was announced today at the City of Manchester Stadium by Etihad Airways' chief executive, James Hogan; Manchester City FC executive chairman, Garry Cook. The announcement was also attended by Sir Howard Bernstein, chief executive of Manchester City Council.
Etihad Airways, owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, was launched in 2003 and now flies to 54 cities around the world. It started daily flights to Manchester in 2006 and last year it carried six million passengers on its international network.
James Hogan said: "This new partnership marks the beginning of what we hope will become a strong and lasting relationship between Manchester City and Etihad Airways.
The first occasion the Manchester City shirt, bearing the Etihad Airways logo, will be shown to the world will be on Saturday 18 July when Manchester City takes on the Orlando Pirates in Cape Town in the first game of its pre season tour to South Africa.
Etihad Airways has built up an impressive portfolio of international sponsorship partners which includes the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Ferrari Formula 1 team, Harlequins Rugby Football Club, the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championships, the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.