Abu Dhabi: Ten people will share a jackpot of Dh5 million — thank to the monthly Big Ticket raffle at the Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Devanandan Puthumanam Parampath from the south Indian state of Kerala bought the ticket for a group of 10 people. Now each person in the group will get 10 per cent of the total amount. Parampath will get 20 per cent as he contributed Dh200 for the ticket.
Speaking to Gulf News, Parampath said, “I feel blessed winning this prize. Initially when I got a call from the organisers, I didn’t believe and thought that somebody may be joking with me. But later when I received an email from them I realised it was true.”
“I called my wife after winning the prize and she told me that don’t joke with me in the morning. But later on she felt blessed and praised God,” he said.
“This is first time I won such a big amount and will spend on my children’s education and some business,” said Parampath, who resides in Ajman.
Nine expatriates, all from south Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, each contributed Dh100 for the draw.
Engineer Livin Vincent, 26, said: “This prize came at a right time as I am going to marry next month and would go to Paris for my honeymoon.”
“It’s great gift from God to me because it’s very timely. Now I can spend freely on my wedding,” said Vincent from Kerala, who has lived in the UAE for four years.
Big Ticket is the largest and longest-running monthly raffle draw for cash prizes and dream luxury cars in Abu Dhabi.
Kandasamy Karutha Pandi, 40, another winner from the group, said, “I am too excited to win the prize for the first time in my life. I will be investing the money to start a business in Dubai.”
Pandi has lived in the UAE for 15 years.
Azeem Basha, mechanical engineer, said, “I have been buying tickets for the last two years. I can’t believe that I finally won.”
“This is a great win for me and my family as I am going to bring my family to the UAE so that my children can continue their studies here and the family can live together,” he said.
January’s Big Ticket draw is going to bigger with a prize money of Dh12 million.
