Dubai, 21st Oct. 2009 (WAM): In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the region, Al Wasl Sports Club, UAEs leading multi-sports club, today signed separate partnerships with Dubai Cares, Noor Dubai and Dubai Autism Centre, as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

A special ceremony to sign the partnership was held today at Al Wasl Club under the patronage of Major General HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Chairman of Dubai Police, and Chairman of Al Wasl Club, and HH Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture & Arts Authorityand Vice Chairman of Al Wasl Club.

Dr. Mohammed Bin Fahad, Chairman of Al Wasl Board, signed the agreements with representatives from the three organisations, in the presence of Sheikh Majid. The sponsorship will last for two seasons.

Under the partnership, Dubai Cares, Noor Dubai and Dubai Autism Centre will get free branding opportunities at match venues, complimentary use of logo in the Clubs PR and advertising campaigns as well as opportunities to use the clubs stadiums for cultural and social activities.

"This unique humanitarian initiative has been launched under the personal drive of Sheikh Majid, who is keen to leverage the Clubs popularity to bring benefits to social and charitable organisations," Bin Fahad said. "Al Wasl Club is proud to implement his directive and put in earnest efforts to make the initiative a huge success.""As the UAEs premier club, Al Wasl Club is keen to give something back to the community by supporting organisations that help the underprivileged and persons with special needs," he added. "The three organisations have outstanding track record in providing relief and care to the needy. We are confident they will get excellent mileage by associating with Al Wasl Club and its sports activities.""This is the first time that a sports club is entering into partnerships with humanitarian organisations, offering them real benefits of a proper sponsor," said Bin Fahad. "The organisations will enjoy not only free exposure but also get to use Al Wasl Club as a venue for their activities, thus saving a substantial amount which they would have spent on hiring venues."Apart from other common benefits, as per the agreement, Dubai Cares will have the privilege of having its logo displayed on the A football team of Al Wasl Club.

Noor Dubai will have its logo featured on all Al Wasl sports teams uniforms (except football), including basketball, volleyball and handball.

Dubai Autism Centre will, have its logo printed on all Al Wasl youth (under-19) team players uniforms.

Highlighting the significance of the partnership between Dubai Cares and Al Wasl Club, Tariq Al Gurg, CEO of Dubai Cares, said, "Our objective of providing children in developing countries with access to primary education is a continuous process that requires constant support from the UAE community. This partnership presents us with a great opportunity to reach out to the residents of the UAE, who have always been extremely supportive of all our initiatives through generous donations as well as actively participating in our volunteer program.""Our two-year collaboration with Al Wasl will maximize Dubai Cares visibility through a number of branding opportunities and help us further mobilize the UAE community through various charity-driven initiatives and events at the clubs facility. Football is the most popular sport in the UAE and is tremendously supported by the individual and business communities. We look forward to creating awareness about our various campaigns and initiatives among all football fans," added Al Gurg.

Dr. Manal Tariam, Head of the Medical Unit of Noor Dubai, said: "We are delighted to enter into this partnership with Al Wasl Club. Noor Dubai was set up under the directive of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, with the goal of eliminating cases of blindness and providing relief to the visually impaired across the globe.""To achieve this goal, we need the support and assistance of different organizations and corporations. We are pleased to say that Al Wasl has set the example through this unique initiative, which, we believe, will give us wider exposure to potential donors and thus help us raise funds for our noble cause," added Dr. Tariam.

Mohammed Amin Al Emadi, Member of the Board and Director General of Dubai Autism Center, appreciated the gesture of Al Wasl Club in supporting the Centre in a concrete way: "Working with people with special needs, particularly autistic children, needs intensive efforts at the administrative and technical levels, as it is crucial to attract qualified staff and training on an ongoing basis.

"Under this partnership, Al Wasl has agreed to throw opens its venues and facilities for Dubai Autism Centre. We greatly appreciate this gesture because it will substantially reduce our financial burden and allow us to host a greater number of activities for children with autism. The initiative of the Al Wasl should serve as a model for public and private institutions to support charitable and humanitarian organizations," he added.

Al Wasl Sports Club is best known for its football team. It was founded in 1974 and has since made a big mark on the regional football landscape. It has earned lovable nicknames like Al Fhood (The Cheetahs) and Embrator (The Emperor). It has participated in all UAE Premier Division seasons without missing a single one. Al Wasls legendary player Fahed Khamees holds the record for the most goals (165) in UAE football. Al Wasl holds the record for the most consecutive wins in the UAE League by winning 12 matches in a row in 1988 season.

Besides football, Al Wasl Club is active in basketball, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, swimming and athletics. The Al Wasl Stadium in Dubai has a capacity of 18,000 seating.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2009.