- Hertz UAE to provide the Vipers with electric and hybrid vehicles to help franchise lower its emissions
- Hertz UAE also partnering with the Vipers in its schools outreach programme and various events across the term of an initial one-year agreement
Photo Caption: From left, Phil Oliver, CEO Desert Vipers, Avram Glazer, Owner Desert Vipers, Alexander Maas – Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Finance, Rental and Leasing, Suhale Showkat Head of Rental Al-Futtaim, Ranny Makhija, Head of B2B Al-Futtaim Financial Services.
Dubai, UAE (Feb. 15, 2024) – The Desert Vipers, the cricket team that plays in the UAE Twenty20 league, the DP World ILT20, has teamed up with Hertz UAE, part of the Al-Futtaim Automotive Group, in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint.
In a year-long collaboration, Hertz UAE will serve as the franchise’s Sustainable Mobility Partner, supplying electric and hybrid vehicles to propel the team towards eco-friendly transportation solutions.
The strategic shift to electric and hybrid vehicles aligns with the Vipers’ ambitious goal to cut carbon emissions by 50% by 2030, ultimately achieving a net-zero status by 2040.
Beyond vehicle provision, the partnership extends to supporting the Desert Vipers’ schools outreach programme. This initiative not only introduces youngsters to cricket but also imparts knowledge about the climate crisis.
As part of the collaboration, Hertz UAE’s logos will be featured on the Vipers shirts distributed to students participating in the schools outreach programme.
Furthermore, Hertz UAE will also play an active role in events aimed at raising awareness about the Desert Vipers commitment to sustainability, with details to be announced in due course.
Commenting on the partnership, Desert Vipers CEO Phil Oliver said: “We are delighted to be joining forces with Hertz Al-Futtaim and thank them for their support.
“Switching from petrol and diesel-powered vehicles to electric and hybrid means of transport is a tangible way of us ‘walking the talk’ in our commitment to reduce our carbon footprint and the support of Hertz Al-Futtaim is fundamental in our ability to do this.
“In addition, their support of our schools programme will help us to introduce cricket to children across Dubai while also getting across our message about sustainability and the climate emergency that threatens the sport and the planet.
“We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure we are sustainable in every way we can be, and this partnership with Hertz Al-Futtaim is another illustration of that commitment.”
Alexander Maas, Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Finance and Hertz UAE, said, “As a leading national franchise and the first car rental brand in the country to introduce fully electric vehicles in its portfolio, we are pleased to partner with the Desert Vipers to drive change on and off the field. Our goal is to be at the forefront of the green mobility transition, and by providing a fleet of electric and hybrid vehicles, we are not only powering the team’s journey to victory but also contributing to building a sustainable future that aligns with the UAE Net-Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative.”
About the Desert Vipers:
The Desert Vipers are a cricket team that plays in the DP World ILT20, a six-team men’s franchise tournament that takes place annually in the United Arab Emirates.
The Desert Vipers finished as runners-up in the inaugural edition, in January and February 2023, with a squad that included England batter Alex Hales, the tournament’s top run-scorer and a player who made the first hundred in ILT20 history, and Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, the leading wicket-taker in two editions of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup, in 2021 and 2022.
The Desert Vipers squad for the second season of the tournament was bolstered by the inclusion of Pakistan trio Shaheen Shah Afridi, the country’s newly appointed Twenty20 International men’s captain, Shadab Khan and Azam Khan.
