UN climate conference organisers are pitching for top corporate sponsors for the Dubai summit at the same time as the United Arab Emirates attempts to combat rising criticism of the petrostate’s leadership of COP28.
The UAE COP28 has offered sponsorship packages ranging up to $8.2mn (Dh30mn) for a principal partner to enjoy privileged access in the controlled “blue zone” where world leaders gather, according to documents sent to prospective sponsors. Space in the “green zone”, open to civil society and small business, is less than $7,000 (Dh25,000). Expressions of interest for pavilions close this week for the event starting on November 30.
The marketing drive comes as activists and more than 100 western politicians have been vocal in opposition to the appointment of Sultan al-Jaber as president-designate for the UN climate talks while he is also in charge of the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. The US and the EU have so far continued to back the UAE.