Watch: Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship renamed following new partnership announcement

Race to Dubai champion Tommy Fleetwood returns to defend his Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship title. Andrew Redington / Getty Images

The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship has been renamed following a partnership with Emirates Global Aluminium.

The tournament, which since its inception in 2006 has grown to become one of the lead events on the European Tour, will now be known as the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA.

The aluminium producer is the largest industrial company in the UAE outside oil and gas. It has strong links to golf in the Emirates, since it sponsors the Omega Dubai Desert Classic also. The two events, to be played in successive weeks next January for the first time, form part of the European Tour’s Desert Swing.

Abdulla Kalban, EGA’s managing director and CEO, said: “Golf has played an important role in putting the UAE on the global map, spurring tourism as well as improving the quality of life of UAE residents.

"This is why EGA has supported the development of world-class golf in the UAE since 1991. With this new partnership in place, we look forward to the country’s iconic golf tournaments making further contributions to the nation’s economy and society.”

The 2018 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA takes place at Abu Dhabi Golf Club from January 18-21. The Omega Dubai Desert Classic falls the following week.