Dubai: A day out on an island in Abu Dhabi ended with a huge surprise for a mother of two when it was announced that she had won a Dh1 million.
An expatriate living in the UAE, Riham Jarrar was first invited to spend a day on Yas Island last Saturday, September 16. She was told she had won a VIP experience and had no idea what was in store for her.
Accompanied by her husband and two children, Jarrar had a fun-filled experience, with their day consisting of spending a luxury breakfast at a hotel’s presidential suite, being escorted by a social media influencer, getting chauffeured in a Ferrari car, enjoying a drifting experience at Yas Marina Circuit, as well as enjoying a sunset cruise aboard a yacht, and many more.
And just as the Jordanian family thought the day was ending, the host of the day’s adventure announced that Mrs. Jarrar had actually won Dh1 million in Yas Island’s #SayYas grand prize draw.
“I just can’t believe it! I don’t know what to say – I’m truly speechless,” exclaimed a stunned Mrs Jarrar as she embraced her family.
“Today’s adventure has been absolutely incredible for all of us and never in my wildest dreams did I think that we’d also win the Dh1 million dirham grand prize.”
“Now, I have one million reasons to love every single thing on Yas Island and the UAE, I’m so grateful and can’t thank Yas Island enough for making this dream come true”, she continued.
Yas Island kicked off its ‘Say Yas’ campaign last June. Those who spent at least Dh400 anywhere on the island were promised that they could win a ‘life-changing’ grand prize of Dh1 million.
When draw organisers picked Mrs. Jarrar’s name, they opted not to alert her about the prize right away. Instead, they invited her to spend a day with ‘a million things to do on Yas Island.’
The adventure
First, the clueless family had a luxury breakfast in the presidential suite at the Yas Viceroy hotel. They then met up with an Emirati social media influencer, Khalid Al Ameri.
Mrs Jarrar and her family were then taken to Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi and to a traditional pearl diving demonstration at the Hairat Yas Pearl Diving Tank. The mother also got to keep a pearl as a gift.
Next on the itinerary was a ride to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi’s Driver Experience aboard a red Ferrari California. The family later dropped by at an Italian eatery, Mamma Rossella, for lunch, which also featured a live cooking session.
The family also spent some time at Yas Mall, where Jarrar "enjoyed a retail experience fit for a Hollywood starlet complete with a personal shopper" at the Flagship Tryano store.
The excitement continued at Yas Marina Circuit, where the couple enjoyed a passenger drifting experience.
The jam-packed day was capped with a relaxing sunset yacht cruise at Yas Marina.
It was at this point when their host took out a giant cheque in the amount of Dh1 million with the winner’s name.
Commenting on the big reveal, Gerardo llanes, executive director of Destination Yas Island stated: “On behalf of the wider Yas Island family, I’d like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Mrs. Jarrar for winning the #SayYas Dh1 million grand prize. We hope it makes a treasured impact on her life and the lives of her loved ones.”
