DUBAI One lucky winner will walk away with 20kg of gold in the upcoming Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), the largest individual prize ever in its 20-year-history, its organisers said this week.
Making the stunning announcement on November 24, Laila Mohammad Suhail, CEO of the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), said that the 32-day extravaganza beginning January 1, 2015, would offer the biggest ever bonanza of prizes – a total of 100kg of gold and 45 carats of diamonds worth over Dh15 million.
Laila said shoppers spending Dh500 at any participating jewellery outlet will be entitled to a raffle coupon that will give them the chance to win 1kg of gold every day and 5kg of gold as weekly prizes.
“On top of this fantastic offer, there will be a mega draw at the end of the festival, offering 40kg which will be distributed among four lucky winners. This includes 20kg as the first prize, 10kg as the second prize and 5kg each for two people as the third prize. This is in addition to a daily draw of one carat diamond and a mega draw of five carat diamond and three one carat diamonds.”
The total amount of prizes given away by DSF sponsors Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group in the festival’s 19 editions so far stood at 734kg of gold and 41 carat of diamonds. The record promotion in the offing is expected to trigger unprecedented purchases of gold and jewellery.
Laila said for the first time in its history, DSF and DGJG are being joined by the World Diamond Mark Foundation (WDMF) to promote Dubai as the world’s gold and jewellery destination.
Adding to the attractions is also a chance for the public to buy a piece of the world’s longest handmade gold chain currently being made.
Starting December 1, jewellers in town will take pre-bookings for the unique gold chain set to enter the Guinness Book of World Records ahead of the 20th DSF.
DGJG chairman Tawhid Abdullah Abdullah said the chain, known as the Dubai Celebration Chain is in line with the DSF’s 20th anniversary theme: “a journey of celebration”.
He said while pre-bookings will be taken from December 1, the delivery of the chain will be made after January 5, 2015. The chain will also go on public display before the festival begins. “Shoppers can buy a piece of history by purchasing parts of the chain in branded packaging along with the Guinness Book of Records logo bearing certificate and raffle coupons to win 100kg gold and 40 carats of diamonds. The promotional offers will be available in every jewellery retail outlet in Dubai,” he said.
DGJG vice-chairman Chandu Siroya said the 180kg chain will be sold in segments in the form of bracelets and chains. “The chain will come in three options – 22, 24 and 26 inches while the bracelet will be in one standard size. The approximate weight of these pieces will be 900mg to an inch. The price will be fixed and notified shortly.”
He said the manufacture of the chain began three days ago. “When complete, it will have four million links made and joined purely by hand. The target is to make it 5km long but it could be increased to 6km or 8km, should the need arise.”
Pre-bookings will be made against an advance payment, which may be in part or full as chosen by the jeweller.
BOX: DSF Bonanza
100 Kilo Gold
Daily Draw 1 kilo gold prize
Weekly Draw 5 kilo gold (4 weekends)
Mega Draw 1st Prize 20 Kilo gold
2nd Prize 10 Kilo gold
3rd Prize 5 Kilo gold each for two people
SMS Draw across 5 radio stations 10 AM to 9 PM (12 hourly draws) for 5 stations 8 kilo Gold
