But in their joint statement after the summit, the four leaders make no direct mention of China
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They are the symbol of hope and living proof that life-changing events do happen.
Midas has lent his golden touch to tens of thousands of people since Dubai Shopping Festival started entertaining people 17 years ago.
Lady luck has smiled on many and made them rich men and women.
Some who have not been so lucky believe that any process that can make people millionaires overnight cannot be that true. Many others, however, are persistent and continue to challenge fate when the 32-day festival is launched annually during winter from January to February.
Each year, millions of young and old from around the globe descend on Dubai and feast in its mammoth array of shopping discounts, competitions, prizes, fireworks and entertainment, but only a few lucky hit the jackpot.
Often shoppers spend between Dh20 to Dh200 to buy raffle tickets or even shop for gold and claim prizes worth up to Dh350,000 in the form of cash or high-end vehicles. This year, standing true to DSF’s festive slogan ‘Dubai at its best’, winners get to take home two cars and a cash prize of Dh100,000.
To get better of our curiosity, Khaleej Times tracks down mega winners of previous years to see how they have fared since they won and how the prize money changed their lives practically.
Great stories of hope, luck and surprise and — in a few cases — twisted luck emerged.
While some spent the money to make their beloved ones happy, others, despite their big wins, remained empty-handed. A case in point is Indian national Hamsa Hussain who bought a lucky ticket with four friends in 2012 and won Dh350,000 in cash but still washes cars to make a living. He says that after division, the remaining money did not leave any great impact in his life.
Likewise, a purported mega winner of 2004 was an unlucky victim of a name mix-up.
Some winners preferred to stay private on their spending while others happily admitted that they had invested in their future. Several were tourists and left the country with their winnings, others came back to try their luck again. Many said that they had been trying for years while some others won within hours.
They all had one more thing to say: Keep trying.
Here are real stories of real people whose lives changed when they bought the Golden Ticket.
Tejinder Pal Singh
Indian
Lexus Mega Raffle Winner 2004
Won Lexus ES 300 or Lexus RX330 + Dh150,000 in cash
“I bought only one ticket that day nine years ago and since winners used to be announced in newspapers then, I did not know I had won until my friends told me the next day. The win was a surprise since that was the first time I won and it has definitely changed my life. I exchanged the car for cash. Then Dh150,000 was given to me in the form of saving certificates and they are still lying with me. Yes, the money has grown manifold over the years. I have invested it in India. But if the money had come in 1989, it was much needed. By 2004 when I won, I was quite settled. The fact is I have never won anything else after that win though I buy a ticket each year.”
Message: One should never give up hope.
Dayala Derbi
Canadian
Infiniti Mega Raffle Winner 2011
Won InifinitiQS + Dh350,000 in cash
Dayala is a two-year-old girl. Her father says, “Dayala’s winning ticket was bought by her grandfather for Dh200 and that was the only ticket he bought that day from Enoc petrol pump. The win came as a huge but pleasant surprise. It was huge news for us. As her parents, we have put aside the money for her future so that when she turns 16 or 17, she can use it for her education. We have been trying our luck since then and shop heavily during DSF each year but not been lucky so far. DSF is a major opportunity and the more you shop and buy, the more chance you have of becoming a winner.”
Message: We are an example for those who do not believe.
Abdul Rahman
UAE national
Lexus Mega Raffle Winner 2011
Won Lexus LX 570 + Dh100,000 in cash
“I opted for the car and now drive a Lexus. Money does change lives. I spent a lot to give a boost to my business and also to make my family happy. I had been trying my luck and buying a ticket everyday of the festival for the past seven years but had not won anything until I received the call that day. I suggest people should follow their intuition and do what they feel can be right for them. DSF offers a great opportunity to all.”
Message: You could be the one in 5,000!
Kalyan Kumar Kanji
Indian
Mega Prize Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group 2012
Won 3 kilograms of gold
A previous resident of Dubai, Kalyan says he was visiting the emirate again when he struck gold. “I had bought gold for my wife from Joyalukkas and one day before leaving for India, I got a call saying I was a mega winner. The money (amounting to Rs750,000) has not made much of a difference but, of course, money is always needed. I invested some, donated some and kept some aside for my son’s education in the UK. Many of my family and friends who did not earlier believe in raffles and lotteries are now visiting Dubai to try their luck after seeing me win.”
Message: One’s win becomes a motivation for others
Rukhsana Saleem
Pakistani
Lexus Mega Raffle Winner 2011
Won Dh350,000
Her daughter says, “I remember the day clearly. It was January 24, 2011 and we were as usual settled in front of the TV when the ticket was picked and the numbers of the ticket that belonged to my mother were announced. First it was shock and then we all screamed in joy.”
Rukhsana, a housewife, had been buying the Dh200 ticket daily during DSF for several years.
It’s been two years since the win, which for us came at the very right time. My mother has been very generous and has used the money wisely. Some has been spent on the wedding of my brother and me. She has also sponsored the studies of my youngest brother who is in the US. Some of the money has been spent in buying bonds and saving certificates. The rest has been used to construct a house back home.
Message: It changes your life
Maryam Yousif
Iranian
Infiniti Mega Raffle Winner 2012
Won Dh350,000
Maryam’s father bought 13 tickets for her in one day of which one was her golden ticket. She opted to take the cash instead of the car. “It was a great moment and totally unexpected,” she says. After sharing some of her win with her family, Maryam, who has just graduated, says she used her money to shop till she dropped. “I spent my money on shopping clothes, shoes and having fun. I did not do any serious investment,” she says. “I am trying again this year,” says Maryam.
Message: Try, try and try
Pradeep Kumar
Indian
Infiniti Mega Raffle Winner 2012
Won InfinitiQX56 + Dh100,000 in cash
“Luck was on my side when I bought the Dh200 ticket from a petrol pump in Muhaisnah. I must have bought the ticket around 4pm and by 9pm, I received a call that I had won. At first, I thought someone was playing a prank on me but reality dawned on me by now that I have utilised my winnings. The car was mine for a minute only and was then bought by my sponsor for Dh270,000 — Dh20,000 more than the original price! From the remaining money I bought a Pajero for myself since I had been trying to buy a bigger car. I have also spent the money in buying land in Kerala. The win was great because I won something for the first time and it made possible several dreams that I had. Many friends and family who had earlier thought that taking part in such raffles was a waste of money are now spending and trying their luck. I am still trying but not with a sense of urgency, though.”
Message: You can’t succeed unless you try
Ahmed Yousef
Moroccan
Nissan Grand Raffle 2013
Won Nissan MicraHatchback
An employee of a restaurant in Dubai, Ahmed invited his mother to visit him in Dubai. “Not in my wildest dreams I thought I could win though I had prayed hard. I had bought some items from the Carrefour hypermarket at Century Mall and decided to take a chance at winning a prize this DSF. My mother was by my side when I prayed for a life-changing moment and dropped the coupon into the raffle drum for the Nissan Grand Raffle draw. On January 17, I received a call from a representative of Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment that I was the winner of that day’s draw. My mother thinks it is time that I got married and has asked me to start saving for this purpose for which this money will help. I have been living in Dubai for 12 years but I have not won anything before so this is really great.”
Message: Pray and try until you succeed
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