EAD - Man City - Puma

Inspired by Abu Dhabi's Rich Culture, Limited-Edition Apparel Drops Today at City Challenge, Yas Mall in Collaboration withManchester City and PUMA Star players Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Ederson and Mateo Kovacic attended the exclusive event unveiling the new apparel Exclusive new collection designed in collaboration with Emirati artist Thikra Alsuwaidi is a striking fusion of Abu Dhabi's rich heritage with a thrilling sports fashion flair, inspired by the champion football team

Experience Abu Dhabi has launched limited-edition fashion apparel t-shirts bringing together the worlds of football, fashion, and culture, in a collaboration with Manchester City Football Club and sportswear brand PUMA. This is the latest activation, as part of Experience Abu Dhabi’s partnership with Manchester City, fusing culture and sport to produce this exclusive fashion drop designed to appeal to fans and fashion enthusiasts. The unique designs pay homage to the passion of football and act as a canvas for cultural expression, using fashion to harmoniously blend sport with Abu Dhabi's rich heritage.

The apparel, designed by Emirati artist Thikra Alsuwaidi, was launched in the presence of star players Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Ederson and Mateo Kovacic from the Premier League team at the ‘City Store’ by PUMA in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Mall. The space is also home to “City Challenge”, an interactive experience, offering immersive, football-themed activities and challenges.

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Al Hosn Wall At the heart of Abu Dhabi, Al Hosn is home to the city’s oldest stone structure.

Cityzens A nickname for the passionate fans of Manchester City.

Kajuja Used for traditional Emirati embroidery.

Red Rose of Lancaster The famous Lancastrian rose – seen west of the Pennines.

93:20 The moment Sergio’s finish changed our world – and the Etihad went into meltdown.

Al-Sadu & Windows A Bedouin weaving style – and traditional star shapes.

The Burqa’a Traditional attire for women, often handcrafted from a range of materials.

Oasis Palm Trees Abu Dhabi’s oasis city, Al Ain, is known for its date plantations.

The Worker Bee The Manchester worker bee – a symbol of our city, our people and our ethos.

Blue Moon You’ll hear this fan anthem before every City home game.

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H.E. Nouf Mohamed Al Boushelaibi, Executive Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: "Our collaboration with Manchester City and PUMA underscores our commitment to leverage the power of partnerships to share Abu Dhabi with the world. Together, we have created a unique product that showcases Abu Dhabi’s rich culture, heritage while highlighting our passion for football. We hope this exclusive apparel collection resonates with global audiences, raising greater awareness of the destination and its hidden gems."

Artist Alsuwaidi, who is part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s Strategic Marketing & Communications department, works across various mediums, including digital art, illustration, sculpture, drawing, painting, installation, photography, and printmaking, and her work is often infused with the UAE's rich cultural references, as seen in this limited collection.

The design of the shirt presents Abu Dhabi as an open door to the world, inspired by the traditional door designs prevalent in the UAE and wider region, enriched by a variety of cultural elements. These include the intricate patterns of Gahwa (Arabic coffee) cups; the traditional craft of Al-Sadu weaving; the distinctive handcrafted Burqa’a; the tranquil palm trees of Al Ain Oasis; and the mesmerising waves of the shoreline. Additionally, the design incorporates elements of Talli embroidery; traditional wall decorations. Each element is a nod to Abu Dhabi’s rich cultural heritage.

It also features design elements meaningful to Manchester City, including the club’s formation date, the red rose of Lancaster, and one of the most iconic moments in Premier League history: Sergio Aguero's goal at 93 minutes and 20 seconds which clinched a historic League title for Manchester City on 13 May 2012.

Serena Gosling, Director of Retail and Licensing, of Manchester City, added: "As a club, we continuously explore opportunities to collaborate with partners to offer our global fans exclusive experiences and products in different regions and over the past few years have created a number of successful apparel items and collections with PUMA. We are therefore excited to work with Experience Abu Dhabi and PUMA to launch this exclusive t-shirt for our fans in Abu Dhabi, as part of the City Challenge opening.

PUMA Middle East General Manager, Taner Seyis commented on the collaboration, saying: "As part of the PUMA promise to propel sports culture forward and celebrate culture, community and heritage, we are excited to deliver PUMA’s signature style to this unique partnership bringing together top local creative talent and global icons such as Manchester City in a one-of-a-kind dazzling showcase of Abu Dhabi’s collective identity. PUMA has always been at the intersection of sports, culture, fashion, and innovation and has locked hands with partners to bring the best of all the above to fans all over the world with initiatives such as this, uniquely celebrating rich local culture and heritage.”

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With just 200 t-shirts in this exclusive drop, sports and fashion enthusiasts have a unique opportunity to secure their very own limited-edition fashion history by visiting the ‘City Challenge’ store. This collaboration is one of several by PUMA celebrating UAE culture by spotlighting designs created by local Emirati talent across special-edition PUMA apparel and exclusives.

The ‘City Challenge’ experience and the new limited-edition apparel further strengthen Manchester City’s enduring partnership with Experience Abu Dhabi, the destination brand of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and the Yas Island portfolio, becoming a key asset for a location already established as one of the world’s leisure and entertainment destinations.

About the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors and its creative industries, fuelling economic progress and helping to achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions.

By working in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate’s position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the emirate’s potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism.

DCT Abu Dhabi’s vision is defined by the emirate’s people, heritage and landscape.

We work to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought.

For more information about DCT Abu Dhabi and the destination, visit tcaabudhabi.ae and visitabudhabi.ae

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