Visa announces its sponsorship of Dubai Shopping Festival 2009

To celebrate its exclusive partnership with FIFA, Visa will be bringing the 2010 FIFA World Cup Winner's Trophy to Dubai, offering Visa cardholders the chance to have their photograph taken with the world's most recognised sports prize.

On 15th, 16th and 17th January 2009, the FIFA World Cup Trophy will be on display at the Dubai Mall. Cardholders who show evidence of using their Visa cards in Dubai Mall during these three days will be able to get a glimpse of the gold plated replica Trophy, which will be retained by the winning team on July 11th 2010 after the 18-carat gold original is returned to the home of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland. Depicting two human figures holding up the earth, the current trophy was designed by Silvio Gazzaniga and was first presented to West Germany captain Franz Beckenbauer in 1974.

Visa will also be hosting football themed activity at the Dubai Mall. Visa cardholders who use their cards in Dubai mall between 15th January and 15th February will be able to participate in Visa's football inspired activities for the chance to win some great prizes.

Exclusive DSF Promotion:

From 15th January to 15th February 2009, Visa cardholders using a Visa or a Visa Electron card to pay for purchases will automatically enter a prize draw to win a trip to the 2010 FIFA World Cup to see their sporting heroes in action. In addition, four lucky winners will win monetary sum loaded on to their Visa card.

Commenting, Norliza Kassim, Head of Regional Marketing, MENA, said:

"Visa is proud to be a key sponsor of DSF for the 14th consecutive year and to support Dubai's premier shopping event to become a major contributor to the development of the Emirate. Visa continues to reward cardholders with memorable and value adding rewards in addition to providing security and convenience when using their Visa cards."

"Visa's relationship with the world's most passionately followed and celebrated sporting event - the FIFA World Cup - provides us with a global platform on which to build our brand and showcase the value of our products and services. Given the Emirate's passion for football, we felt the DSF was an ideal platform on which to showcase our sponsorship of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and ensure that everyone who follows the world's greatest sporting event does so with the world's leading payment brand," Kassim added.

As FIFA's exclusive Financial Services Partner, Visa will be supporting official FIFA events such as the FIFA U-20 World Cup to be held in Egypt in July 2009; the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai in November 2009 and the FIFA Club World Cup to be held in the UAE in 2009 and 2010.