Emirates announced on Tuesday that it has renewed its sponsorship agreement with Spanish football giants Real Madrid until 2031, extending one of the most prominent commercial partnerships in world football and strengthening ties that began more than a decade ago.

The Dubai-based airline said the new agreement will see it continue as the official main sponsor and official airline partner of Real Madrid's men's and women's football teams, while also expanding its involvement with the club's basketball division through a newly signed multi-year sponsorship deal.

Under the renewed partnership, Emirates branding will remain prominently displayed on Real Madrid jerseys, training kits, and team staff apparel across major competitions, including La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup. The airline said the extension would make the arrangement the longest-running jersey sponsorship in the history of Spain's top-flight football league.

Emirates first partnered with Real Madrid in 2011 and became the club's shirt sponsor in 2013. The agreement also includes continued brand visibility at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, access to training facilities, and hospitality rights through the Emirates Lounge.

The sponsorship will additionally support Real Madrid's youth development programmes and cover the club's basketball team through 2031.

"Emirates has a long history of championing football, connecting with millions of people and bringing communities together through our shared love of the game," said Boutros Boutros, Emirates' Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications, Marketing and Brand.

He added that the airline's relationship with Real Madrid had developed alongside its growing presence in Spain, where Emirates now operates five daily flights across Madrid and Barcelona while connecting passengers through its Dubai hub.

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez welcomed the extension, describing it as a continuation of a longstanding relationship.

"Our partnership reflects the strong and unique relationship we have built over the years. We have stood side by side throughout one of the most successful periods in our club's history, and we remain committed to continuing this journey together," Pérez said.

The agreement highlights the growing role of sports sponsorships in airline marketing strategies as carriers seek to strengthen global brand recognition and customer engagement. Emirates is among the world's most active sports sponsors, maintaining partnerships across football, tennis, rugby, golf, cricket, cycling, and other sports.

For passengers and travellers, the partnership is expected to continue generating promotional campaigns, fan engagement activities, and travel-related experiences linked to Real Madrid matches and events. Emirates said previous collaborations included special aircraft liveries featuring club players, fan competitions, stadium experiences, and charter operations for team travel.

The airline noted that its broader football portfolio includes sponsorship agreements with Arsenal, AC Milan, Benfica, Olympique Lyonnais, and Bayern Munich, as well as title sponsorship of England's FA Cup.

The renewal comes as Emirates continues to expand its global brand presence through sports partnerships while reinforcing its position in key international markets, including Spain. Industry observers say such long-term sponsorship agreements remain a key component of airline marketing strategies aimed at attracting customers and strengthening brand loyalty in competitive aviation markets.