A parent at Jumeira Baccalaureate School sponsored a message for pupils on the Burj Khalifa. Courtesy - Jumeira Baccalaureate School
A parent at Jumeira Baccalaureate School sponsored a message for pupils on the Burj Khalifa. Courtesy - Jumeira Baccalaureate School
A parent at Jumeira Baccalaureate School sponsored a message for pupils on the Burj Khalifa. Courtesy - Jumeira Baccalaureate School
A parent at Jumeira Baccalaureate School sponsored a message for pupils on the Burj Khalifa. Courtesy - Jumeira Baccalaureate School

Dubai parent pays to light up Burj Khalifa to congratulate class on graduation


Anam Rizvi
  • English
  • Arabic

It is one of the world's biggest advertising boards - and a Dubai parent spared no expense to congratulate her daughter and classmates on finishing their final year.

A message for school leavers at Jumeira Baccalaureate School was projected on Burj Khalifa on Wednesday night.

The commercial cost is typically Dh250,000 for a full segment - though it was possible the brief stunt was performed at a knock-down rate.

'JBS Class of 2020, Congratulations!' flashed up on the 828-metre-tall tower.

The message was sponsored by a parent of a pupil in grade 12 at the school who wished to surprise her daughter and her classmates.

Speaking on the condition that we not use her name, she told The National she was a long-time supporter of the school and was thrilled to see her daughter's year graduate. She declined to discuss how much was paid for the brief light show.

"I am a proud parent at Jumeira Baccalaureate School. I know all the children in the graduating class and wanted to uplift their spirits," she said.

"2020 has been an odd and difficult year for our children and I wanted to spread some good cheer."

Some pupils have been with their current classmates for up to 14 years.

Many school-leavers lamented that they had to forego the usual fanfare, along with the chance for a final hug and the scribbling of a note or name on a t-shirt.

"I have known most of the pupils since they were children. I have watched them grow up and I felt sad that they were going to miss their graduation, which is such an important milestone," she said.

"I wanted to surprise them and wanted to do something special to remember the Class of 2020."

"We came together as a community, and celebrated this special occasion virtually."

Richard Drew, principal at Jumeira Baccalaureate School, said described the message for grade 12 leavers as a "remarkable gesture".

"The JBS class of 2020 will certainly be celebrated in history," he said.

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Fixtures:

Thursday:
Hatta v Al Jazira, 4.55pm
Al Wasl v Dibba, 7.45pm

Friday:
Al Dhafra v Al Nasr, 5.05pm
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai v Al Wahda, 7.45pm

Saturday:
Ajman v Emirates, 4.55pm
Al Ain v Sharjah, 7.45pm

Biography

Favourite drink: Must have karak chai and Chinese tea every day

Favourite non-Chinese food: Arabic sweets and Indian puri, small round bread of wheat flour

Favourite Chinese dish: Spicy boiled fish or anything cooked by her mother because of its flavour

Best vacation: Returning home to China

Music interests: Enjoys playing the zheng, a string musical instrument

Enjoys reading: Chinese novels, romantic comedies, reading up on business trends, government policy changes

Favourite book: Chairman Mao Zedong’s poems

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fixtures

Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs

Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms

Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles

Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon

Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon