In an irony of sorts and much to the envy of men, three women have won the weekly raffle draw of two luxury cars, which is the prime attraction at the “Hayya Jeddah Shopping Festival.”

The excitement for the three women, however, would turn into disappointment since they are not allowed to drive in the Kingdom.

Announcing the results, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) said six more cars remain to be won during this edition of the event.

The festival has reached its peak, drawing huge crowds in the city. Every day, 50 activities are being conducted all over the city to draw crowds, besides distributing 2,000 give-away gifts daily across 30 mega malls in the city, JCCI said.

In all, 5,000 retail stores are participating in the festival, offering special promotions.

The JCCI said the 30-day shopping festival attracted 1.2 million visitors to the city so far and the figure is expected to touch two million soon.

JCCI said that tourism was a vital growth engine for Jeddah’s GDP. The city is considered a pioneer in organizing festivals and it can accommodate four million tourists a year.

The JCCI, in collaboration with the Higher Committee for Tourism and Monuments, is organizing the festival which coincides with the short mid-term vacation.

This year, the calendar of events features attractions in various fields — from entertainment to shopping promotions, and mega raffles offering prizes worth SR2 million.

The festival has become one of the best-loved shopping events in the Kingdom with a unique and diverse range of retail experiences.