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.

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 face-off between two of the biggest European clubs – FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad, at 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.”

Do you want to become a soccer star? Train like a champion and register our soccer camps in Toronto

The partnership between United Arab Bank and FC Barcelona 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.