Lady Luck smiles on many Dubai Shopping Festival winners

Dubai - World's longest running shopping festival of its kind helps people realise their dreams.

Iqbal Madathil arrived in Dubai, the land of opportunities, a couple of years ago to realise his dreams.
He joined a private company as public relations officer and worked towards building his dream home in India within a few years. But thanks to the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), Iqbal has already realised his dream. His family will be moving into his new house next month.
"My father bought a gold chain for my sister and filled a prize coupon in my name last year. Later, I got a call that I have won 1kg gold. It was the golden moment," a jubilant Iqbal told Khaleej Times.
"I'm very happy that my dream has come true. The credit goes to DSF and the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group which changed the fortune of thousands of people who struggle to realise even their small dreams," he said.
Iqbal was not the only one who benefitted from the DSF promotions.
Z. Khan is from Pakistan and owns a transport business in Dubai. He won 1kg gold during DSF 2015 and is now planning to expand his business with the help of the prize money.
"I came to Dubai in 1998. I was a construction worker and then a taxi driver. After the initial struggle I was able to drive my own taxi. Last year, I won 1kg gold during DSF . It was the first time I was winning such a mega prize. I really feel good and excited to invest this money in my transport business," Khan said.
There is no doubt that the DSF has changed the lives of thousands of shoppers and visitors in the past two decades. The shopping extravaganza has awarded almost Dh2 billion through prizes and raffle draws since its inception in February 1996.
The ongoing 21st edition of the world's longest running shopping festival of its kind is continuing the tradition. This year visitors stand the chance of winning the prize of a lifetime every day - an Infiniti QX70 car plus Dh200,000 in cash, if they buy a raffle ticket worth Dh200.
Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group is also giving away three grand gold prizes every day in addition to exciting new promotions being run in collaboration with the Dubai Shopping Malls Group. As much as 56kg of gold worth Dh7 million can be won at the 32-day shopping bonanza, which ends on February 1.
Tawhid Abdullah, chairman of the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group, said over 1,000 families have benefited from the group's big prizes in the past 20 years.
"We have given away 843kg gold during DSF in the past 20 years. We also awarded gold coins on SMS draw to thousands of people," Abdullah told Khaleej Times.
The group also plans to improve gold promotions for people in the low income group. "We sincerely hope they win and our prizes change their lives. That is why we have kept the minimum purchase to as low as Dh500 for a raffle coupon. The group will be organising several such promotions in the future," he added.
Beena, who arrived in Dubai from the south Indian state of Kerala about 16 years ago, is one of the beneficiaries of the month-long shopping and entertainment bonanza. She won 1kg gold last year and kept it in a bank locker for future use.
"I have two girls and I will use this precious prize for their education and career. I give importance to good education and will use the DSF prize for that purpose," she said.
Ms Akshataha who also won 1kg gold during DSF 2015 echoed similar views.
"I sold the precious metal and kept the money in fixed deposit. I will use this prize money for the education of my children. It's my dream to see my kids as engineers and this prize money will really help me in realise my dreams," she said, adding that this is the only prize she has won since she arrived from Mangalore, India, in 2004.
Sher Bahadur Chettri came from Nepal in Dubai to try his luck in this land of opportunities around 14 years back. He secured a decent job and realised some of his dreams, but he enjoyed the moment when got information that he had won an Infiniti car in a DSF raffle draw last year.
"It was the real joy in my life and I bought commercial land back home for investment purpose. It all happened only because of the DSF prize," Chettri said.
muzaffarrizvi@khaleejtimes.com

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