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Caroline Woznioacki (winner) and Svetlana Kuznetsova (runner-up) at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 2011 prize presentation with HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum, President of Tennis Emirates and Dubai Duty Free officials headed by Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman, George Horan, President, Salah Tahlak, Senior Vice President-Corporate Communications and Tournament Director, Sinead El Sibai, Vice President-Marketing, and Abdulrahman Falaknaz, Vice President of Tennis Emirates |
UAE. Dubai Duty Free has extended its global sponsorship of women’s tennis for an additional three years through to 2014, the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) announced today.
Under the three-year, multi-million dollar agreement, Dubai Duty Free will continue as one of the WTA’s premier sponsors.
The partnership will include a number of key initiatives. These include a new Dubai Duty Free Player Ambassador Programme supported by star WTA players, with the players to be included in the programme for 2012 to be named in the near future; a “˜Dubai Duty Free Full of Surprises Travel Show,’ a short form-travel series which will be aired on TV and online and hosted by and feature WTA stars, plus sponsorship of the WTA’s year-end World No.1 singles and doubles awards. It will also include sponsorship of the WTA’s Pre-Wimbledon Party, said to be the number one tennis party of the year, held in London.
Dubai Duty Free has been a longstanding supporter of the WTA (since 2004), and was the first event in the Middle East to award equal prize money (compared to men) and is a strong supporter of the growth of women’s tennis throughout the region.
Dubai Duty Free is the owner, organiser and title sponsor of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships , an equal prize money Premier tournament on the WTA calendar and a cornerstone event for women’s and men’s tennis in the Middle East.
“Dubai Duty Free has been a loyal partner to the WTA for many years and I am thrilled that the world’s leading duty free retailer and the number one global sport for women will continue our successful partnership,” said Stacey Allaster, Chairman and CEO of the WTA. “A supporter of equal prize money and a true visionary for the sport in the Middle East and beyond, Dubai Duty Free has been a longstanding leader in growing women’s tennis around the world.”
Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman, Dubai Duty Free said: “We have enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with the WTA over the years, and our sponsorship of the women’s tour has evolved well since 2004. Our new agreement provides Dubai Duty Free with an even wider global reach, through the TV and online aspects, while also bringing our brand closer to the players through initiatives such as the Brand Ambassador programme and the Awards scheme. We are looking forward to rolling out our plans in the coming weeks.”
World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki said: “I love Dubai and choose to spend a lot of time there during the off-season. Winning my first Dubai Duty Free Championships last year was a moment I will never forget and I am really excited that the WTA’s great partnership with Dubai Duty Free will continue for many years to come.”
