MG Motor has signed a three-year deal to become Official Partner of one of Saudi Arabia’s most successful football clubs, Al Ahli, as part of the brand’s strategic initiative to engage with football fans and become a household name in Saudi and across the Middle East.
Al Ahli is one of Saudi Arabia’s top football clubs, having never been relegated from the top tier and holding three Saudi Professional League championships, 13 Kings Cup titles and six Crown Prince Cups among its many honours.
With a similarly prestigious and established record of achievements, through this new partnership MG Motor is taking the opportunity to build upon the sporting spirit both brands share. Throughout its 95 year history, MG Motor has collected multiple world records and it is that dedication, spirit and ambition which is shared with Al Ahli Football Club.
With mutual values of passion, performance and achievement, MG will activate its partnership with Al Ahli under the tagline #WeAreUpForIt. This tagline focuses on the notion that nothing is impossible within the right partnership. When the best come together, any challenge can be overcome.
At a press conference held at the MG Showroom in Jeddah on 20th August, with the presence of Prince Mansour bin Mishaal, the General Football Supervisor for Al Ahli, Eng. Ahmad Al Sayegh, President of Al Ahli Club, and Tom Lee, the Managing Director of MG Motor Middle East. Along with several of Al Ahli’s star players appeared including Omar Al Somah, Hussain Abdulghani, Hussain Al Moqahwi and Abdulfattah Asiri in 2019/2020 season shirts sporting MG’s iconic octagon logo. MG Motor and Al Ahli plan to initiate a series of exciting activities in the Kingdom to invite football fans to be part of this historic partnership.
Ahmed Al-Sayegh, President of Al-Ahli Club, said: “When visions combine and harmonize with each other, the path of progress becomes smooth, and challenges become achievements” he added, “We are delighted to sign a sponsorship agreement with MG Motor; one of the world’s biggest automotive companies. By signing this deal we are significantly increasing financial revenues for the club and creating new investment opportunities for all Al Ahli sporting teams to benefit from.”
Tom Lee, Managing Director for SAIC Motor Middle East, MG Motor’s parent company, said: “Football tests the limits of skill and endurance, and with the right teamwork, challenges turn into achievements. At MG Motor we see that every goal can become a reality – a value which we share with Al Ahli football club. We are looking forward to supporting Al Ahli as they face the challenges of the forthcoming football seasons, and demonstrating that “together we are up for it”.
“Football as we know it was born in Great Britain, and as a British-born brand ourselves, this partnership pays homage to these roots. We are passionate about providing drivers across the Kingdom with a winning combination of quality, style, performance and cutting-edge technology in each and every one of our cars. Through our partnership with Al Ahli we look forward to introducing MG to a new audience of football fans.”
In July this year, MG Motor signed a contract with the 2019 Champions League winners, Liverpool FC, as official global partner, cementing the brand’s presence on the global football stage.
The MG brand is exceptionally well positioned to build on its growing product line-up in Saudi Arabia, having partnered with Taajeer Group as its retailer in the Kingdom since the end of 2017.
Last year, sales of MG cars were up by 453 percent across the Middle East, following the launch of three new models: the MG RX5, MG ZS and all-new MG6. Later this year, MG will further expand its range with the launch of three new models: the MG5 compact sedan, the brand’s first-ever 7-seater MG RX8, and the MG HS mid-size SUV.