Following its successful joint sponsorship of the tournament for the past two years, Abu Dhabi-based Dolphin Energy Limited has signed a new three-year deal with the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, one of four European Tour events staged in the Middle East.
The agreement underlines the standing of the tournament as one of the flagship occasions on the European Tour, while emphasising sponsor satisfaction with an event that will be staged for the thirteenth year in succession at Doha Golf Club from January 28-31, 2010.
“Dolphin Energy is proud and delighted to renew our sponsorship of this magnificent tournament,” said Dolphin Energy CEO Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh. “When we first became involved as presenting sponsor back in 2008, we wanted to demonstrate our company’s commitment to Qatar. Today we are happy to emphasise that commitment by signing for another three years.”
Supporting the Commercialbank Qatar Masters was the first major sporting sponsorship in Qatar by the regional energy company less than a year after commencing gas production offshore Qatar and the subsequent supply by pipeline to the UAE in July 2007.
Hassan Al Nuami, Chairman of the Qatar Golf Association (QGA), which stages the event in association with the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), said the agreement was the perfect way to launch the countdown to what promises to be yet another golfing milestone in the region.
“In these difficult economic times, we are well aware that any decision to renew sponsorship agreements is not taken lightly,” he said.
“For Dolphin Energy to commit to a further three years as the tournament’s presenting sponsor is testimony to the success of the event and the return on investment they receive through their association with what we believe to be one of the Middle East’s greatest sporting occasions.”
Since its inaugural event in 1998, the tournament has seen eleven different winners with big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros taking the title in 2009 to join a roll of honour that includes champions Ernie Els, Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson and Retief Goosen.
Under the title sponsorship of Commercialbank, the event has grown to become a world-class tournament boasting some of the biggest names in the game and Commercialbank Group CEO Andrew Stevens was quick to recognise the role played by the tournament’s family of sponsors.
“This new agreement means Dolphin Energy will have been our presenting sponsor for five years,” he said. “It is that type of commitment that ensures stability for the tournament and helps us maintain the standards players, officials, media and spectators have come to expect when the European Tour reaches Qatar. We are delighted to renew our relationship with Dolphin Energy who will help Commercialbank, the QGA and the QOC stage yet another star-studded event over the next three years.”
Dolphin Energy’s strategic gas supply initiative involves the production and processing of natural gas from Qatar’s North Field, and transportation of the refined gas by subsea pipeline to the UAE. The overall investment in constructing the entire Dolphin Gas Project – wells, sealines, processing plant, export pipeline and receiving facilities – has made it one of the largest energy-related ventures ever undertaken in the Middle East. Dolphin Energy is a development company that was established in Abu Dhabi to implement the Dolphin Gas Project, and to undertake other important energy-related developments such as the Al Ain – Fujairah Gas Pipeline, commissioned in January 2004.
Qatar Masters www.qatar-masters.com
Defending champion Spain’s Alvaro Quiros after receiving the trophy in 2009