The #WishUponACoke campaign in the Middle East continues to surprise and delight homesick ex-pats to provide for family members back home. In a new viral film, special booths activated by Coca-Cola bottle caps invite hardworking ex-pats in Dubai – many of whom are from India, Pakistan, the Philippines and other countries in Asia – to make a wish for their loved ones.

Building on the success of last summer’s “Hello Happiness” film, which showed laborers connecting with family members via red phone booths that accepted Coke bottle caps instead of coins, several “Wish Booths” were set up across Dubai where expats could make a wish using the same caps. The booths were set up on cricket fields, parks, labor camps and shopping malls. Once inside the booths, workers were asked to share their wishes for their families back home for the chance to have Coca-Cola make them a reality.

Four were picked at random, and the #WishUponACoke team traveled to remote villages and towns to fulfill wishes and deliver happiness. In India, Coke helped rebuild Ashraf Alam’s parents’ roof, which was severely damaged from extreme weather conditions, and enabled Mohamed Rizwan’s children to complete their education. 

In Pakistan, the team built a machine for Mohamed Rashid’s elderly parents to better irrigate their farmland. 

Lastly, the team traveled to the Philippines to set up a grocery store for Rhodora’s elderly mother, enabling her to more effectively sell fish instead of walking miles to sell door-to-door.

"We are excited to roll out the 'Wish Upon a Coke’ campaign that focuses on the Asian expat community in UAE,” said Tolga Cebe, head of marketing, Coca-Cola Middle East. “We expect significant viral attraction, complementing our previous success with 'Social Media Guard', 'Stop Phubbing Around' and 'Hello Happiness', which qualified in the top five Coca-Cola global Videos in 2014. 

The film follows a video filmed in the Dubai airport during the busy holiday travel season. Facing the inconvenience of overweight luggage and not being able to take home gifts for loved ones, Coca-Cola created special labels for Coke bottles to serve as excess baggage tags. This simple act of kindness enabled travelers to take home more happiness – and help make more holiday wishes come true. 

The #WishUponACoke campaign in UAE also includes an under-the-cap promotion where consumers could win airline tickets, free meals and Coke products, and electronics.