UAE residents get chance to see FC Barcelona matches live in Spain

UAE residents recently won a lifetime opportunity to meet and watch some of the greatest legends of football at close quarters, thanks to an initiative launched by United Arab Bank (UAB) and FC Barcelona.

For the next three years, UAB will be flying winners on all-expenses-paid trips to Barcelona, where they can watch FC Barcelona play live at the famed Camp Nou stadium.

To enter into the draw, participants can register at www.uab-football.com.

In the first trip, nine out of the 14 lucky winners, whose names were selected from a raffle draw, were flown to Barcelona to experience football action featuring some of the biggest names in football history, including Lionel Messi, Neymar Da Silva, Sergio Busquets and Marc Bartra.

In addition to VIP treatment throughout the trip and a chance to meet FCB officials, the winners were also treated to an exciting faceoff between two of the biggest European clubs – FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad, at the celebrated Camp Nou stadium.

The match saw FCB maintaining their consecutive successful streak in their La Liga campaign as they clashed with UEFA Champions League qualifiers Real Sociedad. FCB eventually won the thriller 4-1.

“This has to be one of the most exciting moments of my life,” said UAE resident  Lee Copland, whose dream to watch FCB’s star striker Lionel Messi in action came true. “It is a different experience to be able to watch the match at home and to watch them play at close quarters in Camp Nou’s lively atmosphere, especially when Messi scored the second goal of the match. I am grateful for the rare opportunity that UAB gave me. It has been a wonderful experience.”

In early September, United Arab Bank had announced its association with FC Barcelona, in a landmark alliance that confirmed UAB as FC Barcelona’s 'Official Partner in the UAE' and placed the bank as the first and exclusive financial partner of the football club in the UAE.

The partnership will continue for a period of three years, ending July 2016. During the three-year partnership, United Arab Bank will reward more than 1,000 customers with tickets to watch the club play live in their home camp, Camp Nou.

Another UAE resident Rasheed Majed said that by being seated just behind the goal posts, they could watch the strategies of the teams closely. “It’s nerve-wracking to see what goes on offside as well as to witness my favourite FCB stars penetrate Real Sociedad’s strong defences. This will always remain a memorable experience,” she added.

Paul Trowbridge, CEO of United Arab Bank, described the trip as a fulfilment of UAB’s promise to the region’s football enthusiasts. “The VIP visit to the home of FC Barcelona was the next step of our partnership with the club. By empowering the first batch of winners to experience football, we are underlining our continuous support to a prestigious club that shares our winning ideology. The next few months will see us introducing many new elements in the alliance to make it a win-win association for both of us as well as football lovers in the region,” he said.

During the first visit to Camp Nou, FCB President Sando Rosell presented the club’s official jersey to Paul Trowbridge, CEO, United Arab Bank to officially mark the start of the 3-year partnership. Tony Graham, EVP, Retail Banking was also present.
 

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