Imagine waking up one day to discover you’re a millionaire. This scenario became a reality for PR Ratheesh Kumar, a resident of the Kottayam district in Kerala, who clinched the top prize of $1 million (approximately Rs 7 crore) in the Dubai Duty Free (DDF) Raffle on a Tuesday.
Kumar, employed as a finance manager at a private firm in Dubai, received a call from DDF authorities on Tuesday morning confirming his incredible win. Overwhelmed, he shared, “I went into a state of shock. I’m getting a lot of calls, so I’m slowly believing the news. I’m not someone who buys the coupon regularly. When I bought the coupon this time, I didn’t expect to win.”
Residing in Dubai with his wife, Kumar purchased the winning ticket on April 2. Expressing gratitude to the city where he has worked for a decade, he remarked, “I owe a lot in my life to Dubai. I’m very close to this city. Isn’t this city the reason for all my luck? That I won the prize in the holy month of Ramzan makes the moment sweeter.”
Although Kumar hasn’t solidified plans for the windfall, he expressed a desire to assist the people of Kerala, especially those affected by recent floods. He stated, “Post floods, the people of Kerala have gone through arduous circumstances. I want to help in whichever way I can. Not just now, I have tried to help in my own way even before.”
This success story adds to the list of Malayalis and Indians who have become overnight millionaires through the DDF raffle, which began in 1999. The tickets, available online and at kiosks at Dubai airport, are priced at 1000 dirhams excluding VAT. Apart from cash prizes, the DDF raffle also features separate draws with luxury cars and bikes as coveted prizes.
