UIM XCAT World Series to see Emaar on board

Thursday, Jul 11, 2013

Dubai: The Dubai-based World Professional Powerboat Association (WPPA) and real estate giant Emaar have vowed to promote the emirate internationally through their new association, starting with the UIM XCAT World Series later this year.

The two partners came together at the foot of the Burj Khalifa on Thursday for a photoshoot to announce their partnership for the 2013 World Series, which gets under way in Stresa, Italy, from September 6-8.

The WPPA, which was formed in 2009 to organise and promote watersports domestically and internationally, signed a formal agreement with the UIM, the world governing body for watersport, in December last year to become promoter and exclusive rights holder for the popular XCAT World Series.

Now, for the first time, the XCAT event is running an international calendar, starting in Italy and ending with the fifth round in Dubai in December. The other venues are yet to be confirmed.

“This partnership is for Dubai. Emaar and the WPPA have a common goal and that lies in the promotion of Dubai on the world stage. I believe we will be achieving this goal through the partnership,” Ahmad Al Matroushi, managing director of Emaar, told Gulf News on Thursday.

“We are here for Dubai and all that has been instructed by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council.

“At Emaar, our goal is to be a truly international brand and believe we can do so through this partnership with the UIM XCAT World Series.

“In recent times, Emaar has started using sports sponsorships to rev up their presence in the region and this agreement with the UIM XCAT World Series comes at the right time. We believe in sports as the most suitable medium to reach out internationally and this tie-up with the WPPA will help us achieve our goal.”

Dr Khalid Zahed, vice-president of the WPPA, was thrilled by the agreement. “We’ve got a truly international field of sponsors,” he said. “As a company that has projects such as the biggest mall [Dubai Mall] and the world’s tallest building [Burj Khalifa], Emaar stands for modernity, lifestyle and technical finesse and we are glad to have such a partner.

“Emaar and WPPA have both been pursuing a single goal and that is to show Dubai to the world. Now it is time to come together and do this.”

By Alaric Gomes Senior Reporter