Dubai: A group of 40 members that included 38 Indians employed at a Qatar-based hypermarket chain have reportedly won 10 million dirhams (USD 2.72 million) in a lucky draw in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Indian expatriate Naheel Nizamudeen bought the winning ticket in his name in the Big Ticket Lottery, Abu Dhabi, reported Khaleej Times.
Nizamudeen, who is originally from Kerala, could not be reached since Sunday evening forcing the lottery organisers to contact his parents in India to deliver the news.
Nizamuddin had given his Indian number in the lottery application but was found inactive. However, he had also furnished the alternate number of his parents, and that’s how the organisers got in touch with the family.
Another 39 winners will share the prize, of whom 37 are Indians (all from Kerala) while the other two are Bangladeshis. All of them are working at Qatar-based hypermarket chain Al Suwayed Group.
“We usually get a lot of spam calls. I still can’t believe that we have won,” Nizamuddin was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
“We are all from middle-class families and have financial issues. So, the future of 40 families have been secured with this jackpot,” said Nizamedeen’s roommate and one of the winners, Shinoy Othayoth Kizhakk.
According to Shinoy, this was the first time that 40 people bought the ticket. “Usually, there are 10 to 15 people who purchase the ticket. Since we were not winning for the past couple of years, we expanded our group to 40….. You never know who gets lucky,” Shinoy said over the phone.
