The first tie-up between SailGP and Emirates was unveiled in January last year. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)

International sailing series SailGP has struck a five-year deal with Emirates, in a significant expansion and extension of its existing relationship with the Dubai-based airline.

Through a renewed tie-up unveiled today, Emirates becomes the series’ exclusive airline partner (a first for SailGP) a global league partner, and title partner of the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix – with the series’ 2024-25 season set to take in a UK stop for the first time in three years. That event will be held in Portsmouth on England’s south coast, on July 19 and 20, 2025.

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The airline will also continue as title partner of the Dubai Sail Grand Prix, which is set to act as the season-opener for 2024-25 and will take place later this month, on November 23 and 24.

This year’s edition will be the second with Emirates present as title partner. In addition, SailGP will become the umpire partner of the series, working alongside the league to assist its remote-based officials.

The first tie-up between SailGP and Emirates was unveiled in January last year when the UAE brand struck a three-season deal to title sponsor the series’ Great Britain team.

In terms of new benefits and assets for Emirates secured by this expansion, the brand will have marketing, and digital and social media rights, across the length and breadth of this deal, as well as access to hospitality offerings at SailGP's top-tier Adrenaline Lounge facility.

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Other prominent SailGP commercial partners include Rolex as presenting partner, Mubadala as global partner, Oracle as global data partner, and Apex as financial solutions partner.

For Emirates, meanwhile, this tie-up comes soon after another significant sports sponsorship extension – earlier this week, the airline extended its deal as a major sponsor of golf’s DP World Tour for another seven years.

The airline will also have official tournament partner status at 15 events on the DP World Tour calendar each season, up from 14 currently. In addition, it will continue to benefit from visible branding throughout the season.

SailGP’s 2024-25 calendar was unveiled in July, with a quartet of new locations – Brazil, Germany, Switzerland, and Auckland in New Zealand – on the agenda.

The UK, meanwhile, has not staged a SailGP event since 2022.

In total, 14 events will take place across five continents, with both the first and last races set to take place in Abu Dhabi.

This represents an increase from the 12 events across four continents which constituted the 2023-24 calendar.