Cop28 unveils first round of sponsors

Creative Commons/Palácio do Planalto

• Committee selects 13 companies
• Sponsors able to showcase brand
• Packages cost up to $8m

Mashreq, Emirates NBD, Investcorp and DP World have been announced as among the first round of official sponsors for the Cop28 climate change summit, to be held in Dubai later this year. 

Sponsors have been selected by the Cop28 Sponsorship Committee, which comprises seven internal Cop28 departments and an independent third party, professional services company EY. 

The committee has been reviewing and assessing sponsor applications over the past few months before announcing the winners on Tuesday. 

All sponsors have committed to supporting UAE – and global – efforts to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and/or have signed up to the UAE Sustainable Companies Pledge.

This requires them to measure and report their greenhouse gas emissions with the UAE government and develop “science-based plans” to reduce their carbon footprints, Cop28 said. 

Depending on what package they have bought, the first round of sponsors will be able to showcase their brand and stage a corporate presence in the Cop28 UAE Green Zone.

The UK’s Sky News reported in May that the most expensive Cop28 sponsorship package on offer costs around $8 million and provides the company with a “speaking opportunity in the Cop28 UAE presidency events” and “partner recognition on the trophy wall”, among other benefits. 

More than $30 million of Cop28 sponsorship opportunities were up for grabs, Sky News reported, citing documents from the organising body. Cop28 has not yet publicised or confirmed the costs. 

The event is taking place at Expo City Dubai from November 30 to December 12 and is expected to host more than 70,000 delegates. Cop28 revealed the programme for the event last month. 

Shayne Nelson, group chief executive of Dubai’s Emirates NBD bank – a so-called associate pathway partner sponsor – said: “The banking and financial services sector plays an important role in supporting the transition to climate neutrality across client sectors.”

Bahrain-headquartered Investcorp is also an associate pathway partner. Chairman Mohgammed Alardhi said: “Cop28 has laid out its priorities, among which delivering urgent action on climate finance is one of the most critical to changing course.”