Dubai Expat Wins $1M in Raffle Ahead of First Child’s Birth
Weeks before welcoming his first child, Vinod Puthiya Purayil’s life took a joyous turn as he won $1 million in the Dubai Duty-Free Millennium Millionaire raffle. The 29-year-old, originally from Kannur, Kerala, called the win a “gift from above” for his growing family.
Purayil, an equipment operator at Dnata, won with ticket number 1880, purchased online on November 30 as part of the Millennium Millionaire Series 483. “I was driving when I got the call,” said Purayil, still overwhelmed by the news. “At first, I couldn’t believe it. When they asked for my details, I didn’t realize why—then they told me I had won.”
For the past four years, Purayil has participated in the raffle with a group of friends, colleagues, and family members. Each month, about ten members pool resources to buy tickets, alternating whose name is listed. “When I told the group, they were ecstatic,” he said.
This time, the lucky ticket was part of the group’s monthly purchase, and Purayil had contributed AED 50. “From this win, I’ll receive around $100,000 (AED 367,300) as my share,” he explained.
In total, Purayil participates in four separate groups, spending over AED 300 each month on tickets. “It’s been a consistent effort, but now it feels completely worth it,” he said.
His wife, seven months pregnant and currently in India, was overjoyed when she heard the news. “She couldn’t stop crying tears of happiness. She called it a blessing for our baby,” Purayil shared.
The group members plan to meet at the Dubai Duty-Free office to discuss their winnings and celebrate. “This is not just my win—it’s a collective joy for our group and my family. The timing couldn’t have been better, with my child on the way. This win brings hope, joy, and the promise of a brighter future for all of us,” Purayil said.
