Etisalat has announced a sponsorship agreement with Fifa, the international governing association of football, to become a national supporter of the tournament in the UAE.

Through this agreement, etisalat will help bring live football action to its millions of customers in the UAE.

The two-year agreement will entitle etisalat to National Supporter sponsorship rights for the sixth and seventh editions of the Fifa Club World Cup, to be held in Abu Dhabi in December this year and again in 2010.

The Fifa Club World Cup UAE 2009 is bound to captivate football fans in the UAE, with Al Ahli FCD, the current UFL (UAE Football League) Champions competing alongside the six continental club champions at the tournament.

Considering that the current winners of the UEFA Champions League, FC Barcelona, are also a renowned etisalat international partner, the Fifa Club World Cup UAE 2009, this sponsorship further strengthens etisalat's association with football.

The company recently signed a four-year international partnership agreement with FC Barcelona and has earlier sponsored many football events including the Etisalat Football League, the UAE-Brazil football match and other tournaments both locally and internationally.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Nasir bin Obood, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, etisalat, said: "Etisalat has been a strong supporter and an endorser of the game of football for a long time, and is delighted to be associated with Fifa.

"Since our sponsorship of the Etisalat Football league in 2005, etisalat has been an active supporter of the game, vigorously contributing to nurture and develop the National football talent.

"Through our multiple sponsorship activities, we aim to support this popular sport at local, national and international levels. Our commitment towards creating a robust national team saw realisation, when the UAE national team won the Gulf Cup 18th last year and the our under 18 team won the Gulf Cup sixth edition yesterday, bringing joy and glory to our country."

Etisalat has a long association with football, having sponsored the UAE football league since 2005. Etisalat has also initiated a variety of original campaigns for football fans over the years.