The UAE is famed for its prize draws. You can win a Dh1 million from your National Bonds holdings, a further Dh1 million from one of several prize-linking bank savings accounts as well as gold, cars, jewellery, cash and more from the endless raffles on offer during the nation’s myriad of shopping festivals.
So to see residents literally digging for treasure with gold-coloured shovels was a new take on the nation’s love affair with the prize draw — particularly when they were doing so in the worst sandstorm to hit the UAE this year.
To help celebrate its 40th anniversary, United Arab Bank hosted a treasure hunt on Saturday morning at the building site of its future Dubai regional office in Business Bay.
Incredibly, despite the weather, 100 residents from across the country — drawn from radio contests — turned up to take part in the contest that saw participants armed with shovels digging for goodies.
The contestants then competed in five rounds, with the 100 whittled down to just 10 to compete for the grand prizes.
And despite the sandstorm raging around the competitors, it was certainly worth attending. The top prize of two annual home rents of Dh100,000 were won by Jennifer Hope Merlino, an American-Italian and Kathlyn May Sulleza, from the Philippines.
The second prize was three school tuition fees up Dh45,000 each and five further contestants won autographed FC Barcelona memorabilia. A further 90 winners walked away with gold coins and shopping vouchers.
It may have been dusty, with contestants handed masks to help them cope with the conditions, but the prizes were life changing for some.
Ms Merlino, one of the grand prize winners, now plans to bring her 11-year-old son, Jayson, to Dubai using her winnings to pay his tuition fees.
“I am ecstatic,” she said.
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