Alinma Bank has struck a partnership with Visa to sponsor the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls (VCARB) in Formula 1 races spanning Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
Mohammed Al Muwannas, Head of Marketing at Alinma Bank, says the alignment rests on shared values: “speed, precision, and innovation.” Visa’s Ziad Chehade notes that Alinma-Visa cardholders will gain access to exclusive motorsport experiences beyond branding exposure.
Sponsorship Data & Regional Growth
- Formula 1 teams collectively pulled in USD 2.04 billion in sponsorship revenue in 2024.
- In Saudi Arabia, F1’s fan base is growing fast, a 11% increase in new fans was recorded year-on-year per a Nielsen study.
- Sport tourism is rising: Saudi Arabia has hosted 2.5 million sports tourists in recent years, driven in part by events like Grand Prix races.
These figures show that motorsport is no longer niche; it’s a high-stakes marketing arena, especially in the Gulf.
Why This Matters for MENA
This partnership isn’t just about logos on helmets. In the Gulf, F1 has become a catalyst for sports tourism, brand positioning, and event-driven economic growth. For a bank like Alinma, this signals an aspiration beyond finance into lifestyle and national identity.
For startups and regional players, the deal is a reminder: linking products to cultural momentum can yield outsized attention. In MENA’s crowded media space, getting visually anchored in something iconic like F1 can boost relevance overnight.
