Gold shops bustling as giant prize draw nears

With the astounding grand prize of 10 kilos of gold in the DSF Gold promotion just five days away, the gold and jewellery market is witnessing hectic activity in participating outlets.

The Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group, organisers of the world's biggest gold promotion during the Dubai Shopping Festival, are gearing up for the grand draw that will choose one lucky shopper to win the coveted prize of 10 glittering bars of gold worth Dh310,000.

Some 500,000 coupons collected throughout the month-long festival will be deposited in a single transparent drum for the grand draw to be held in the square of Dubai's famous Gold Souq, attended by officials from DSF and members of the public. It will be televised live on Dubai TV.

Chandu Siroya, vice-chairman of the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group, said the rotating drum with a diameter of nine feet will contain all the coupons deposited by gold shoppers throughout the festival, except those who had won the daily prize of one kilo.

"The final draw will be the culmination of our unique promotion that would have given away a total of 46 kilos of gold during DSF 2001," said Siroya. "The promotion as well as Dubai's prestige as the best gold centre in the world evoked a good response this year as well."

The list of winners of the daily prize of one kilo is a proof that people from all parts of the world visit the Gold Souq and shop for gold and jewellery items. The winners have so far come from 13 countries: UAE, India, Pakistan, Iraq, Qatar, UK, Germany, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sweden,Tunisia, Iran and Egypt. The promotion is open to shoppers spending Dh500.

The scene at the Gold Souq, in Meena Bazaar in Bur Dubai, Karama Gold building and other jewellery outlets across Dubai is one of hectic activity. The nightly draw for the 1 kg gold prize at the glittering Gold Souq has also become a big hit, with nearly 1,000 people attending the televised event.

The daily draw is being held at three different locations in rotation: at the Gold Souq, the Gold Land in Bur Dubai and the Gold and Diamond Park, with facilities for people to watch the draw at close range.

Siroya said the gold promotion has once again become the talking point among shoppers, and many people are eagerly looking forward to the daily live draw. "The venue of the draw at the Gold Souq is packed with between 500 and 1000 people every night, and is it has happened in the past, quite often the winner comes from the audience itself."

The gold promotion saw a record number of buyers in the first week of the festival. The atmosphere was extremely festive at the Gold Souq, with residents and visitors thronging the various shops. Much of the purchases have been done by expatriates from GCC countries such as Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Apart from the daily winners, the promotion gives away 1 gm medallion in a scratch and win scheme. A total of 5,000 such prizes would have been given away by the end of the festival. The winners also get a free Dubai Cruise on the 'Golden Dhow' for a family of four. The Group is also exhibiting a Golden Trailer in the shape of a one-kilo gold bar, which goes around streets of Dubai.