Arsenal have announced a new five-year agreement with Emirates that will see the airline remain both the club’s principal shirt sponsor, training kit sponsor and the holder of the naming rights to Emirates Stadium until 2033.
The deal, reported to be a significant increase on the current £45 million per year agreement, ensures one of the longest-running commercial relationships in English football will continue into its fourth decade.
Emirates first partnered with Arsenal in 2004 as part of the financing package for the club’s move from Highbury to Ashburton Grove. The airline’s logo has featured on the front of Arsenal shirts since the 2006/07 campaign, while the stadium has carried the Emirates name since it officially opened in July 2006.
The partnership has been renewed several times since, most recently in August 2023 when the shirt sponsorship was extended until 2028.
The announcement also comes as Arsenal continue to examine ways of modernising and expanding Emirates Stadium. While the club has yet to unveil formal redevelopment plans, senior executives have acknowledged that options are being explored to increase capacity and improve the matchday experience. A fresh long-term naming rights agreement removes uncertainty around one of the stadium’s most valuable commercial assets as those discussions continue.
Speaking about the extension, Richard Garlick, Arsenal Chief Executive, said: “Winning the Premier League is an incredibly proud moment in our club’s history and one that belongs to everyone connected with Arsenal. Emirates has been an integral part of this success – standing alongside us throughout this journey and sharing in the defining moments, challenges and successes that have shaped our club over the past two decades.
“Winning the title gives us the opportunity to be more ambitious and build on where we are today. Our renewal reflects a shared belief in Arsenal’s future and a shared determination to keep moving forward. The best partnerships, like the best teams, never stand still. Together, we’ll continue to challenge and build on the strong foundations we have built together, with the confidence and ambition that our greatest achievements still lie ahead.”
The renewal also reflects the strength of Arsenal’s commercial operation, which has expanded significantly in recent years. Alongside long-standing flagship partners Emirates and adidas, the club has added Sobha Realty, whose branding features on the training kit and London Colney training centre, while global payroll and HR platform Deel recently replaced Visit Rwanda as sleeve sponsor.
Those headline agreements sit alongside an extensive portfolio of partners spanning technology, finance, automotive, food and beverage, and consumer brands, underlining Arsenal’s growing appeal to businesses around the world.
The deal is another significant commercial milestone for Arsenal, whose revenues have risen alongside the club’s resurgence on the pitch. With the men’s team re-established among Europe’s elite and the women’s side continuing to set the standard both domestically and in Europe, Arsenal are operating from a position of considerable strength. Just as importantly, the agreement provides long-term certainty over one of the club’s most valuable revenue streams as investment continues across the first team, the academy and wider infrastructure.
The extension also comes at a time when football sponsorships face greater scrutiny than ever before. As one of the world’s largest airlines, Emirates operates in an industry under increasing pressure over its environmental impact, while the UAE’s human rights record, including restrictions affecting LGBTQ+ people, has also attracted criticism. Those issues will no doubt lead some supporters to question the club’s continued association with the company, even as the partnership enters another chapter.