The raffle has announced that Ananth Perumalsamy, a 33-year-old from Tamil Nadu, India, residing in Dubai, has won a cash prize of AED 1 million, making him the third winner of the AED 1 million raffle draw.
Ananth has been living in the UAE for eight years and works in the shipping and marine services sector. He purchased the winning ticket as part of a group of 12 close friends who regularly contribute together to buy raffle tickets.
Ananth commented:
“We always dreamed of becoming millionaires every time we bought tickets together. This time, one of my friends picked some numbers, and I changed a few… and we won!”
He discovered the win while one of the friends he shares the prize with was still asleep. With a surprised smile, he recalled:
“I woke him up to tell him, and we couldn’t believe what we were hearing. We were in total shock and needed some time to process it. But then, the moment started to feel incredibly real.”
The group of friends agreed to split the prize equally, with each aiming to fulfill personal dreams — from clearing debts to buying a family home. For Ananth, the win held extra significance as it came just a few weeks before his wedding. With a grateful smile, he said:
“This amount will help us tremendously with the wedding expenses and will be a great support as we begin our new life together. I haven’t told my fiancée yet… I want it to be a surprise!”
One of Ananth’s long-time dreams has been to buy a Toyota car, which he plans to purchase soon in Dubai. But he hasn’t forgotten his roots or his community — he has decided to dedicate a portion of the winnings to support students in his home country and help them complete their education. He said emotionally:
“This is not just luck, it’s a real blessing. I feel it’s my duty to give back, especially to ambitious young people.”
His joy was only complete after sharing the news with his mother and older brother in India. He shared:
“When I told them, they were speechless with joy.”
Despite the big win, Ananth remains grounded in his outlook on lottery participation and offers a simple piece of advice to others:
“Never spend more than you can afford, and always play responsibly.”
The raffle remains committed to raising awareness about responsible gaming. By offering the right tools and resources, it encourages participants to play mindfully, promotes thoughtful decision-making, and upholds a culture of responsible behavior for all players and participants.
