Gulf sponsorship, after a year that moved the calendar
Since the war that began on 28 February, 269 Gulf events have been rescheduled (Northbourne Advisory, via Skift). Here is what moved, who sponsors what across exhibitions, sport, culture and seasons, and the deals that cross between India and the Gulf.
What moved in 2026
Each with its new date and the source that reported it.
| Event | Status | Was | Now | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Esports World Cup · Saudi Arabia | Moved | Riyadh, summer | Paris, 2 Jul to 23 Aug 2026 | Wikipedia, 2026 Esports World Cup |
| Saudi Arabian Grand Prix · Saudi Arabia | Cancelled | Jeddah, April | Cancelled (announced 14 Mar 2026) | Wikipedia, 2026 Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix |
| Bahrain Grand Prix · Bahrain | Cancelled | Sakhir, April | Cancelled (announced 14 Mar 2026) | Wikipedia, 2026 Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix |
| Esports Nations Cup · Saudi Arabia | Postponed | Riyadh, November 2026 | Postponed to November 2027 | Wikipedia, Esports Nations Cup |
| Art Dubai · United Arab Emirates | Moved | April | 14 to 17 May 2026 | The National, 10 Apr 2026 |
| Arabian Travel Market · United Arab Emirates | Moved | 4 to 7 May | 17 to 20 Aug 2026 | The National, 10 Apr 2026 |
| Abu Dhabi International Book Fair · United Arab Emirates | Moved | April | 13 to 18 Sep 2026 | The National, 10 Apr 2026 |
| Airport Show · United Arab Emirates | Moved | May | 12 to 14 Oct 2026 | The National, 10 Apr 2026 |
| World Art Dubai · United Arab Emirates | Moved | April | 19 to 22 Nov 2026 | The National, 10 Apr 2026 |
| Dubai International Boat Show · United Arab Emirates | Moved | April | 25 to 29 Nov 2026 | The National, 10 Apr 2026 |
| Culture Summit Abu Dhabi · United Arab Emirates | Moved | April | 8 to 10 Dec 2026 | The National, 10 Apr 2026 |
| Dubai Lynx · United Arab Emirates | Moved | Spring | Creativity Week 6 to 7 Oct, awards 8 Oct 2026 | Campaign Middle East |
| GITEX Global · United Arab Emirates | New venue | October, Dubai World Trade Centre | 7 to 11 Dec 2026, Expo City Dubai | Dubai Media Office, 8 Oct 2025 |
GITEX Global's move to December at Expo City was announced in October 2025, before the war.
Edition by edition
Gulf properties with sponsors on record for more than one season. Each page has the full sponsor history.
Sharjah Biennial
67 sponsors · 2023–2027
FootballAl Ain
30 sponsors · 1991–2023
FilmRed Sea International Film Festival
30 sponsors · 2022–2025
FootballAl-Nassr
19 sponsors · 1979–2025
MotorsportAbu Dhabi Grand Prix
14 sponsors · 2024–2026
FootballAl-Ahli Saudi
13 sponsors · 1978–2023
FootballAl-Arabi SC (Qatar)
13 sponsors · 2000–2021
FootballAl Hilal SFC
11 sponsors · 2004–2023
Business, tech and industry1 Billion Followers Summit
11 sponsors · 2025–2026
FootballAl-Hazem
8 sponsors · 2017–2025
FootballSaudi Arabia national football team
8 sponsors · 1976–2011
Kabaddi, hockey, tennis and moreDubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
8 sponsors · 2026–2027
Gulf sponsors
Brands with three or more confirmed Gulf deals. Hide the ones owned by a state or a sovereign fund to see what private brands buy.
| Brand | Category | Ownership | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates | Travel & hospitality | State-linked | 12 |
| DP World | Business services | State-linked | 12 |
| Tameeni Insurance | Banking & finance | Private | 8 |
| Qatar Airways | Travel & hospitality | State-linked | 7 |
| ADNOC | Energy & industrial | State-linked | 7 |
| Etihad Airways | Travel & hospitality | State-linked | 6 |
| STC | Telecom | State-linked | 6 |
| Saudi Qaid Transport | Travel & hospitality | Private | 5 |
| CNN | Media & entertainment | Private | 5 |
| Khaleej Times | Media & entertainment | Private | 4 |
| ADCB | Banking & finance | Private | 4 |
| Emaar | Home & building | State-linked | 4 |
| Rolex | Fashion & lifestyle | Private | 4 |
| Roads and Transport Authority | Government & institutions | Private | 4 |
| EY | Business services | Private | 4 |
| Dubai Police | Government & institutions | Private | 4 |
| Danube Properties | Home & building | Private | 3 |
| Yelo | – | Private | 3 |
| Yelo Rent a Car | Automotive | Private | 3 |
| Skillano | – | Private | 3 |
| NEOM | Home & building | State-linked | 3 |
| First Abu Dhabi Bank | Banking & finance | State-linked | 3 |
| Emirates NBD | Banking & finance | State-linked | 3 |
| Doha Bank | Banking & finance | Private | 3 |
| Snoonu | – | Private | 3 |
| Burrda | – | Private | 3 |
| Mubadala | Healthcare | State-linked | 3 |
| Dell Technologies | Consumer electronics | Private | 3 |
| Ericsson | Telecom | Private | 3 |
| Dubai Fitness Challenge | Government & institutions | Private | 3 |
| Mediclinic | Healthcare | Private | 3 |
| Aldar | Home & building | State-linked | 3 |
| The Art Newspaper | Media & entertainment | Private | 3 |
| The National | Media & entertainment | Private | 3 |
| Abu Dhabi Sports Council | Government & institutions | Private | 3 |
| ExxonMobil | Energy & industrial | Private | 3 |
| TotalEnergies | Energy & industrial | Private | 3 |
| Dubai Civil Defence | Government & institutions | Private | 3 |
| Dubai Eye 103.8 | Media & entertainment | Private | 3 |
| ARN | Media & entertainment | Private | 3 |
| Van Cleef & Arpels | Fashion & lifestyle | Private | 2 |
| Reflo | – | Private | 2 |
| Red Sea Global | – | State-linked | 2 |
| Aldyar Alarabiya | – | Private | 2 |
| Offside | – | Private | 2 |
| Basic Electronics | Consumer electronics | Private | 2 |
| Savvy Games | Gaming & fantasy sports | Private | 2 |
| Roshn | Home & building | State-linked | 2 |
| Mezaj Maghribhi | – | Private | 2 |
| Jetour | Automotive | Private | 2 |
| Shurooq | – | Private | 2 |
| Mai Dubai | Travel & hospitality | Private | 2 |
| Sharq Insurance | Banking & finance | Private | 2 |
| Al Rayan Bank | Banking & finance | Private | 2 |
| Grand Sport | – | Private | 2 |
| Experience Abu Dhabi | Travel & hospitality | State-linked | 2 |
| TikTok | Technology & software | Private | 2 |
| Saudia | Travel & hospitality | State-linked | 2 |
| Visit Qatar | Travel & hospitality | State-linked | 2 |
| Honeywell | Energy & industrial | Private | 2 |
| Accenture | Technology & software | Private | 2 |
| Mobily | Telecom | Private | 2 |
| Al-Jawal | – | Private | 2 |
| S-Team | – | Private | 2 |
| Ooredoo | Telecom | State-linked | 2 |
| Nova | Telecom | Private | 2 |
| Mac Cosmetics | Personal & home care | Private | 2 |
| Dubai Holding | Energy & industrial | State-linked | 2 |
| DIFC | – | Private | 2 |
| Visit Saudi | Travel & hospitality | State-linked | 2 |
| ITP Media Group | Media & entertainment | Private | 2 |
| e& | Telecom | State-linked | 2 |
| Art Africa | Media & entertainment | Private | 2 |
| Art Asia Pacific | Media & entertainment | Private | 2 |
| ArtReview | Media & entertainment | Private | 2 |
| Canvas | Media & entertainment | Private | 2 |
| Moussee | Media & entertainment | Private | 2 |
| Tadweer | Energy & industrial | Private | 2 |
| Abu Dhabi Aviation | Travel & hospitality | Private | 2 |
| Abu Dhabi Global Market | Banking & finance | Private | 2 |
| Arena Middle East and Asia | Energy & industrial | Private | 2 |
| Mubadala Capital | Banking & finance | Private | 2 |
| Lunate | Banking & finance | Private | 2 |
| The Entertainer | Technology & software | Private | 2 |
| ABB | – | Private | 2 |
| Bapco | Energy & industrial | Private | 2 |
| Art Jameel | Arts, venues & leisure | Private | 2 |
| SRMG | Media & entertainment | Private | 2 |
| Bahrain Economic Development Board | Government & institutions | Private | 2 |
| Gulf Construction | Media & entertainment | Private | 2 |
Show all 90 Gulf sponsors
Gulf brands in India
25 confirmed deals by Gulf-headquartered brands on Indian properties.
Kit / jersey · Team · 2026
Principal shirt sponsor for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026.
Partner · Event · 2026
Logo in the sponsor bar on the championship's own site; tiers are not printed.
Partner · Event · 2026
Logo in the sponsor bar on the championship's own site; tiers are not printed.
Presenting · Event · 2026
Presenting · Event · 2026
Associate sponsor · TV show · 24 Aug 2025
Co-powered by. JioStar signed nine sponsors across television and digital for the season, which premiered on 24 August 2025 across JioHotstar and Colors.
Associate sponsor · TV show · 24 Aug 2025
Sponsor of season 19; Danube Group chairman Rizwan Sajan cited the show's global Indian audience as the reason for buying in.
Ad film · 18 Aug 2025
A campaign that signed Siddhant Chaturvedi as a third face alongside Kalki Koechlin and Alaya F, built on the idea that a person dresses as several different versions of themselves in one day and the collection has to keep pace.
Talent: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Kalki Koechlin, Alaya F.
Show 17 more
Shirt sponsor · Team · 2025
Front-of-shirt sponsor of Chennai Super Kings, 2025–present.
Back-of-shirt sponsor · Team · 2024
Back-of-shirt sponsor of Chennai Super Kings, 2024.
Shirt sponsor · Team · 2024
Front-of-shirt sponsor of Delhi Capitals, 2024–present.
Title · Event · 2024
Exclusive title sponsor.
Shirt sponsor · Team · 2023
Front-of-shirt sponsor of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, 2023–present.
Product placement · Film · 2023
Qatar Airways carries the characters on the London, Punjab and Gulf legs of the film; cabin interiors and service are shown in a scene or two.
Official partner · Event · 2023
Listed under "PARTNERS" on the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 partner wall.
Official partner · Event · 2023
Listed under "PARTNERS" on the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 partner wall.
Partner · Event · 2023
Festival Supporter.
Back-of-shirt sponsor · Team · 2020
Back-of-shirt sponsor of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, 2020–2023.
Shirt sponsor · Team · 2020
Front-of-shirt sponsor of Rajasthan Royals, 2020.
Back-of-shirt sponsor · Team · 2020
Back-of-shirt sponsor of Mumbai City, 2020–2021.
Shirt sponsor · Team · 2020
Front-of-shirt sponsor of Mumbai City, 2020.
Digital/social · 13 Mar 2019
A music video telling women to dress for themselves rather than to unwritten social rules, written by Dentsu Webchutney, sung and composed by Anushka Manchanda and made with Culture Machine. It ran on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, picked up radio play on Mirchi and Red FM, and its dance step spread on short video.
Agency: Dentsu Webchutney. Talent: Anushka Manchanda.
Shirt sponsor · Team · 2019
Front-of-shirt sponsor of Mumbai City, 2019–present. Listed for the 2025–26 season.
Product placement · Film · 2014
The Dubai resort is a location and a plot element: the heist runs through Atlantis The Palm. Atlantis VP public relations Andrea Krenn said Farah Khan wrote the script with Dubai and Atlantis in mind.
Shirt sponsor · Team · 2009
Front-of-shirt sponsor of Punjab Kings, 2009–2012.
Indian brands in the Gulf
8 confirmed deals by Indian brands on Gulf properties.
Official partner · Event · 2027
Listed under "Official Partner" on dakar.com's own partners page.
Partner · Event · 2027
Official Supplier. On the Dubai Marathon's Official Suppliers page for the 2027 race.
Title · Event · 2026
The wall's "Title Partner", shown as the Hero mark; the name leads the tournament title.
Broadcast · Event · 2026
Listed under "Broadcast Partner"; the logo links to zee5.com.
Bronze sponsor · Event · 2026
Bronze Sponsor on the official LEAP 2026 partner page.
Partner · Event · 2026
Event Partner. Listed under "Event Partners".
Sleeve sponsor · Team · 2025
Sleeve sponsor of Al-Nassr, 2025–present. Listed for the 2025–26 season.
Launch · 24 Apr 2018
GIB brought its Shariah-compliant digital bank meem to Bahrain with a launch event at the meem store in The Avenues attended by the Central Bank governor. The proposition was a One Pack current-and-savings account opened and run entirely from a mobile app, with a video contact centre and social-media servicing.
The India–Gulf rows are few so far: brand origin is recorded for a fifth of brands. We are adding them brand by brand.