FC Barcelona sign Emirates Islamic as UAE banking partner

FC Barcelona have appointed Emirates Islamic as their Official Commercial Banking Partner in the United Arab Emirates until June 2028, adding a territory-specific financial services deal aimed at converting fandom into retail banking customers.The partnership’s core asset is the Emirates Islamic Barça Cashback Card, a co-branded product positioned as a rewards and experiences vehicle that links everyday spending to club-related benefits.Mohammed Kamran Wajid, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Emirates Islamic, said: “We are proud to partner with FC Barcelona, a club that represents passion, excellence, and global appeal. "This partnership allows us to offer our customers a unique combination of rewarding financial benefits and extraordinary sporting experiences. The Emirates Islamic FC Barcelona Co-Branded Card reflects our ongoing commitment to enhancing customer value through innovative and lifestyle-driven products.”The card will offer cashback of up to 4% across selected spending categories including sports, fuel, supermarkets and dining, with additional benefits such as access to match tickets and official merchandise.FC Barcelona said the proposition is tailored towards a younger fan base and will target an estimated 1.7 million club supporters in the UAE, which the club said represents more than 20% of the country’s population.Marc Bruix, Global Partnerships Director of FC Barcelona, said: “For FC Barcelona, our fans are at the centre of everything we do. Thanks to our alliance with Emirates Islamic, we can offer our supporters in the UAE a new way to connect with the club in their daily lives. "The Emirates Islamic Barça Cashback Card is a perfect example of how sports sponsorship can go beyond the pitch and deliver real, exclusive benefits for our global community.”The deal reflects a broader rights-holder trend towards financial products that deliver measurable outcomes, with co-branded cards used to generate recurring revenue, data capture and loyalty behaviour rather than relying only on media visibility.Territory banking partnerships also allow clubs to add depth in regulated categories without diluting global sponsorship stacks, while giving local institutions an asset that can be activated through customer rewards, hospitality and campaign storytelling.Emirates Islamic is the Islamic banking arm of Emirates NBD Group and operates a national network of branches and ATMs across the UAE, positioning the FC Barcelona partnership as part of its wider push towards digital and experience-led retail banking.