Dubai Shopping Malls Group to offer one million Dirhams grand prize in spectacular promotion for DSS 2003

The Win-A-Million promotion will be held throughout the Dubai Summer Surprises from June 19 to August 29 at participating malls, and was announced on June 09 by Eisa Adam Ibrahim, President of DSMG at a press conference held at Al Bustan Centre.

Others present were Laila Suhail, Project Director of DSS and Karen Hargreaves, Marketing Director of MasterCard International, Middle East and North Africa.

This is the first time since the DSS was launched in 1998 that the DSMG is offering all shoppers the chance to win a weekly prize, as well as a luxury vehicle.

Eisa Adam Ibrahim said: "The Dubai Shopping Malls Group is delighted to offer shoppers an innovative promotion during this year's DSS. By introducing a weekly draw, the Dubai Shopping Malls Group wants to create more excitement this DSS, and nothing can be more attractive than a prize package that also offers nine Toyota Land Cruisers. Through research we have found that luxury vehicles are a big attraction among shoppers in Dubai and the GCC. However, the grand prize of one million dirhams remains the main attraction of our annual promotion".

And, for those shoppers making purchases on their MasterCard, the promotion will give them two chances to win.

"As the premier promotion of DSS, the Win-A-Million is designed to enrich the unique shopping experience that Dubai offers residents and visitors. Since 1998, we have worked together with Dubai Summer Surprises on a journey of partnership and progress. Our promotion involves plenty of coordination between the participating malls and DSS, which is a crucial factor if the shopping centres in Dubai are to make a concerted effort to help project Dubai as the year-round shopping destination of the Middle East", Mr. Ibrahim added.

Laila Suhail, Project Director of DSS 2003 said: "This year's DSMG promotion offers the largest single package of prizes to DSS shoppers. It demonstrates the commitment of the private sector to continue extending their whole-hearted support to ensure the success of the DSS, which has dramatically transformed what was once a lean season into an exciting and hugely beneficial period for the retail trade. The participation of MasterCard in this year's DSMG promotion is a significant reminder of the role that private sector and multi-national companies can play in the economic development of the UAE.

Ms. Suhail added: "The DSS has had a positive impact on the performances of a number of sectors during the summer in Dubai every year including shopping malls, hotels and airlines. A comparative evaluation of Dubai in the summer of 1997 and Dubai in the summer of 2002 reveals the dramatic difference that DSS has made to the economy of the Emirate. Last year, overall sales at Dubai shopping malls exceeded one billion dirhams to register a significant increase of 14.2 percent over the previous year, while mall traffic registered a sharp increase of 26 percent with 18 participating malls receiving some 7.56 million shoppers. We are confident that shoppers will spend more at malls during DSS 2003 as a result of the fantastic line-up of prizes this year".

Karen Hargreaves, Marketing Director, MasterCard International, Middle East and North Africa, said: "We are delighted to extend our partnership with the Dubai Shopping Malls Group for the fourth consecutive year. At MasterCard we are commited to providing enjoyable and value-added benefits to MasterCard cardholders at the place where they shop. This ten-week promotion is yet another example of how we deliver on that promise offering MasterCard cardholders double the chances of winning amazing prizes".