2010 ARABIAN SPONSORSHIP AWARDS SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED; Regions leading brands well represented including ADAC, ADCB, ADIB, du Etihad Airways, Etisalat and Mubadala

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 6th December 2010: The shortlist for the 2010 Arabian Sponsorship Awards has been released today and features regional and international brands with campaigns ranging from Formula 1 to environmental campaigns, junior rugby to awards.
The Awards, received from sponsors, rights holders and agencies across the Gulf region, form part of the Arabian Sponsorship Forum which takes place December 8th and 9th at The Yas Hotel, Abu Dhabi.

The Awards are an opportunity to recognize exceptional sponsorship activations which have taken place throughout the Arabian Gulf during the past 18 months.

The shortlist includes brands such as ADAC, ADCB, ADIB, du Etihad Airways, Etisalat, LG Electronics and Mubadala. Four organizations - Etihad Airways, Etisalat, LG and Mubadala - were each shortlisted in multiple categories.

The first entries were judged by a panel of leading marketing and business professors from the Higher College of Technology, American University Sharjah, UAE University, Abu Dhabi University and the Canadian University Dubai. The second round of judging is underway involving independent, international sports and entertainment sponsorship experts, chaired by Kevin Roberts, Editorial Director of SportBusiness. The winners will be announced on December 8th at The Yas Hotel, Abu Dhabi.

Business to Community

• ADAC “Chasing Rainbows Tour”

• ADCB Emirates Woman of the Year Awards

• Mubadala “ Your Goal is Our Goal”

Business to Consumer

• Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank ULF Football Partnership

• Etisalat International Telecom Partner of FC Barcelona

• LG F1 Bahrain GP





Under $ 250,000 USD

• Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Junior Rugby Festival

• Etisalat F1 x 3

• LG Greenomics

Business to Business

• Corporate Masters Golf 2010



• Mubadala Scuderia Ferrari

• Etisalat Abu Dhabi Golf Championship 2010

International

• du Sponsorship of Redbull at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

• Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2010

• Etihad Airways: Manchester City FC



Chairman of the Awards Judging Panel and SportBusiness Editorial Director, Kevin Roberts, commented:

“It is an honour to be leading the judging panel for this year’s Awards; we have received submissions across a number of industries.”

“The Arabian Sponsorship Forum is an important initiative for the region, and the Awards help acknowledge and celebrate those companies who effectively use sponsorship as part of their marketing strategy.”

In collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and their Sports Care Program, the Forum has announced a number of international keynote speakers for the Arabian Sponsorship Forum 2010, including Kevin Roberts, Global CEO of Saatchi and Saatchi, based out of New York, USA; Anders Sundt Jensen, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars, Germany; Peter Baumgartner, Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Jocelyn Robiot, Senior Vice President Global Sports Marketing, adidas International and Danny Jordaan, 2010 FIFA World Cup Chief Executive Officer.

For more information, please visit http://www.arabiansponsorship.com/ or call 02 4418122.