ABU DHABI // Stamp collectors and football fans rarely mix, but both should be pleased by Emirates Post's decision to issue special stamps to commemorate the recent Fifa Club World Cup in the capital. It is hoped the stamps, which feature the Club World Cup logo, will spark the interest of collectors around the world. Ibrahim Karam, the chief executive of Emirates Post, said the stamps were an important part of promoting the UAE's image as a sporting venue of choice.
"The Fifa Club World Cup stamps will raise the status of the UAE on the sports and tourism map of the world," he said. "Emirates Post usually participates in international stamp exhibitions and global events. In our stands we present unique stamps issues that highlight the country. So we are sure that [the stamps] will also promote sport tourism by attracting the world's major championships and dedicated [football] fans."
Released as a special commemorative issue on December 19, the stamps were printed to be sold in denominations of Dh1 and Dh5. There is also a souvenir sheet for collectors, priced at Dh10, and first-day covers that are sold at one dirham more than the regular price of each item. Abdulla Khoory, president of the Emirates Philatelic Association, said he bought some of the stamps the day they were released.
"Local collectors will of course buy them and we have a lot of international collectors of football stamps," he said. "A stamp is one sort of message that penetrates to every part of society. "To be frank, though, I think the stamps would have helped create publicity about the event if they had been issued before the World Cup or on the first day because people would know that the event was going on. As it happened, this year's issue worked mainly to record the event and not to publicise it."
The commemorative stamps are available in post offices across the country. Those looking for souvenir sheets and first-day covers can find them at the Central Post Office in Abu Dhabi, and the Deira Main Post Office and the Central Post Office Karama in Dubai. @Email:newsdesk@thenational.ae
