• Home

Driver hits the jackpot

ABU DHABI - Kackarnatvida Sameer, an Indian national working as a driver in a school in the capital for the past 22 years, won the grand raffle draw of Abu Dhabi Duty Free's `Be a Millionaire' promotion that was held recently at the duty free shopping complex.

Sameer's ticket number 2440 landed him the grand prize of one million dirhams. He said that he comes to the airport regularly to drop off and collect passengers, and buys a ticket for the ADDF raffle every month from the landside shop.

Three out of the six winners in the raffle had purchased their tickets from the landside shop at Abu Dhabi International Airport which is open to non-travelling airport visitors as well as passengers.

The five winners of Dh 100,000 each were the four Indians Purakkat Ahmed Koya with ticket number 5442, Pottakatt Vinodh Kumar with ticket number 3508, Managandan Aboo Mohamed with ticket number 1086 and Mohamed Kunju with ticket number 2893 and Pakistani Ahmed Irfan with ticket number 3401.

In June 1992, Abu Dhabi Duty Free launched the "Win Dhs 500,000" the first of its kind in the Middle East. Originally, the prize was a "dream house" in the winner's country of origin. It was later decided to offer a credit prize instead, and became a prize of Dh 500,000 cash. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the raffle last year, a special mega raffle to win Dh5 million took place, and to celebrate the festive season at the end of 2002, the raffle prize was increased to Dh1 million plus five additional prizes of Dh 100,000 each. Following extensive customer surveys, it was decided to maintain the raffle scheme at this level.

The raffle has increased in popularity every year with a total of over 600 draws, generating total winnings of over Dh300 million, having been carried out to date. All travellers via Abu Dhabi International Airport are eligible to participate in the raffle. Indians purchase the largest number of tickets (69.47 per cent).

Tickets for the "Be a Millionaire" raffle are now available at the downtown City Terminal facility and online at www.addf.ae as well as at Abu Dhabi and Al Ain Duty Frees.

The next draw will be conducted on March 1.2004.

The draw was conducted by Mr Abdullah Abbad Al Hameli, assistant undersecretary of the Department of Civil Aviation, Mr Mohamed Mounib, Managing Director of ADDF, Mr Dan Cappell, Deputy Managing Director of ADDF and Mr Hani Gress, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain Duty Free Manager.

• UAE