Sobha Realty Scores Arsenal FC Partnership

Dubai-based luxury real estate developer, Sobha Realty, has secured a naming rights deal. With Premier League club Arsenal FC. 

Under the deal, the real estate company has inked a deal to be the club’s first-ever training ground naming rights partner. As a result, the training facility will be called Sobha Realty Training Centre.

Additionally, Sobha Realty has also been named Arsenal’s principal partner and the official training kit sleeve partner for both the men’s and women’s teams.

Owing to the agreement, Arsenal will be able to look into the potential for expansion at the club’s training facility by utilising Sobha Realty’s unparalleled property and real estate experience. This bolsters the goal of engineering greatness and establishes the ideal atmosphere for the coaches, staff, and players, both male and female.

Arsenal Chief Commercial Officer, Juliet Slot, said, “Sobha Realty is a dynamic business with big ambitions. We’re excited to build on our partnership and tap into their extensive knowledge in property development. Their unrivalled experience will help us understand and explore the opportunities available to us, ensuring we’re always moving forward with world-class facilities for the future. Our exciting new deal is a strong sign of our commitment to building mutually beneficial partnerships which support the objectives of both Arsenal and our partner.”

“This is a groundbreaking agreement for both of us, with Sobha becoming our first ever training ground naming rights partner, supporting their global growth ambitions as they seek to establish a stronger presence worldwide. Our new partnership shows the strength of our commercial proposition and our ability to grow sustainably by developing commercial opportunities that can be invested back into our club. There has never been a better time to join us on our journey.”

Ravi Menon, Co-chairman of Sobha Realty, added, “At Sobha Realty, we aim to establish robust partnerships that transcend boundaries, and our journey with Arsenal exemplifies this ethos. From securing the naming rights at The WM club to becoming a Principal Partner and renaming the club’s training ground as Sobha Realty Training Centre, highlights the evolution of our collaborations and our commitment to fostering excellence.”

“Together, we seek to leave a lasting legacy and make a significant impact that goes beyond sponsorship. This collaboration represents our commitment to quality, expansion and innovation, not just in the US and the UK, but on an international scale. Our global targets complement Arsenal’s remarkable legacy and together we aim to explore new horizons.”

Prior to this deal, Sobha Realty first collaborated with Arsenal last September by securing naming rights to The WM Club, a premium match day hospitality suite at Emirates Stadium. 

According to ASN data, the real estate category (1.9%) has invested about US$73.1m backing football in Asia’s sponsorship market since Q221. The two biggest markets are Japan (56.9%) and China (33%), with two of the biggest deals involving Polus Group’s Urawa Red Diamonds partnership (US$4.8m) and Matsuo Komuten’s Kawazaki Frontale collaboration (US$2.3m). Meanwhile, this isn’t first time Arsenal has had a partnership with a real estate company from Asia, having collaborated with Labs Group on a Pan-Asian partnership.