emirates7 - Ananth Perumalsamy, a 33-year-old Indian expat living in Dubai, swapped his usual cups of tea for lottery tickets and ended up winning Dh1 million in the UAE Lottery.
For Ananth, tea is more than just a beverage; it's a key part of his daily routine. "It's like an hourly drink for us," said the Tamil Nadu native.
Working as an accountant in a private company since moving to Dubai in 2017, Ananth never imagined a small change in his habits would lead to such a big windfall. Originally from Sivakasi in southern India, he was introduced to the UAE Lottery by a colleague in November 2023. “A coworker mentioned that a new lottery was being launched, so we decided to pool our money and buy tickets,” Ananth explained.
He and 11 colleagues, all with modest incomes, formed a group to buy tickets. “Buying a single ticket every time was too expensive, so we contributed Dh8 each fortnight to purchase two tickets. At Dh50 per ticket, it meant I was spending just Dh16 a month, which is about the same as giving up 12 to 16 cups of tea,” he shared. The group participated in every draw since the first, and their persistence paid off when they won the Dh1 million prize.
“I check the results every time at 9pm, and on the night of the win, I was really tired but still decided to check before going to bed. When I saw we had won, I couldn’t believe it,” he recalled. “I couldn’t sleep that night or the next. Some of the group members thought I was joking when I told them.”
The Dh1 million prize will be divided among the 12 members, with each receiving between Dh85,000 and Dh100,000. Ananth, who is getting married next month, plans to use his share for the wedding and has always dreamed of owning a car in Dubai. “Now, that dream will come true. I already have a driving license,” he said.
Each group member has different plans for their share: “Some want to build a home, others plan to fund their children’s education, clear debts, or start a small business.”
Bala Murugan, another group member who has lived in Dubai for 20 years, is using his share to build a house. “We couldn’t sleep that night, and we were all brainstorming about what to do with the money. I’ve never been this happy in Dubai,” he said. Though they haven’t yet celebrated, Ananth shared that they’ll soon head to a nice restaurant to enjoy the moment.
When it comes to selecting their numbers, Ananth said it’s mostly a random process. “Sometimes we ask each other for suggestions, and if anyone has a birthday that month, we’ll pick that number,” he explained. “It’s a fun ritual we’ve kept since the beginning.”
Both Ananth and Bala laughed when asked what they would have done if they had won the Dh100 million jackpot. “We can’t even imagine that kind of money,” Ananth said. “It would be enough to support generations.” While the grand prize of Dh100 million is still unclaimed, the group remains hopeful.
For Ananth, tea is more than just a beverage; it's a key part of his daily routine. "It's like an hourly drink for us," said the Tamil Nadu native.
Working as an accountant in a private company since moving to Dubai in 2017, Ananth never imagined a small change in his habits would lead to such a big windfall. Originally from Sivakasi in southern India, he was introduced to the UAE Lottery by a colleague in November 2023. “A coworker mentioned that a new lottery was being launched, so we decided to pool our money and buy tickets,” Ananth explained.
He and 11 colleagues, all with modest incomes, formed a group to buy tickets. “Buying a single ticket every time was too expensive, so we contributed Dh8 each fortnight to purchase two tickets. At Dh50 per ticket, it meant I was spending just Dh16 a month, which is about the same as giving up 12 to 16 cups of tea,” he shared. The group participated in every draw since the first, and their persistence paid off when they won the Dh1 million prize.
“I check the results every time at 9pm, and on the night of the win, I was really tired but still decided to check before going to bed. When I saw we had won, I couldn’t believe it,” he recalled. “I couldn’t sleep that night or the next. Some of the group members thought I was joking when I told them.”
The Dh1 million prize will be divided among the 12 members, with each receiving between Dh85,000 and Dh100,000. Ananth, who is getting married next month, plans to use his share for the wedding and has always dreamed of owning a car in Dubai. “Now, that dream will come true. I already have a driving license,” he said.
Each group member has different plans for their share: “Some want to build a home, others plan to fund their children’s education, clear debts, or start a small business.”
Bala Murugan, another group member who has lived in Dubai for 20 years, is using his share to build a house. “We couldn’t sleep that night, and we were all brainstorming about what to do with the money. I’ve never been this happy in Dubai,” he said. Though they haven’t yet celebrated, Ananth shared that they’ll soon head to a nice restaurant to enjoy the moment.
When it comes to selecting their numbers, Ananth said it’s mostly a random process. “Sometimes we ask each other for suggestions, and if anyone has a birthday that month, we’ll pick that number,” he explained. “It’s a fun ritual we’ve kept since the beginning.”
Both Ananth and Bala laughed when asked what they would have done if they had won the Dh100 million jackpot. “We can’t even imagine that kind of money,” Ananth said. “It would be enough to support generations.” While the grand prize of Dh100 million is still unclaimed, the group remains hopeful.