By Jojo Dass
For Dubai Vibes Magazine
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A 32-year-old avid cricket fan from Pakistan, who lives at a labor accommodation while working as a mechanic at a big Abu Dhabi aluminum factory for AED2,000 a month, was the latest to win AED10 million in the Mahzooz grand draw.
Saad, who went to UAE to support his family back home, including his sister, whose husband passed on last year due to a medical condition, leaving behind three daughters, was the eighth AED10 million Mahzooz winner so far this year.
At a press conference held Oct. 6, Saad said he will quit his job and open a tourism-related business. He said he will also donate funds to flood-stricken Pakistan. And, for his love of the game, Saad said he will sponsor the cricket team at their employer-provided labor accommodation – uniforms and all.
“I have thought about a lot of things. I am my family’s only breadwinner, and I am responsible for both my ailing mother and sister, who lost her husband to a brain tumour last year.
“Primarily, I want to send my family to the UAE. This country has given me a lot of opportunities, so I’ll start a business here along the line of tourism. I will also start a business in Pakistan and donate to the flood relief efforts,” Saad told reporters through an interpreter.
“I also plan to travel with my family as a treat for winning.”
Farid Samji, CEO of EWINGS, which operates Mahzooz, said: “We are delighted to see that we have another deserving grand prize winner from Pakistan, and we hope that Mahzooz can give all those who have big dreams the good life they deserve.”
He added: “Pakistani nationals make up our third largest customer base. Over 190 of them were among the second prize winners of AED 1M, and 12 have won the raffle draw of 100,000 each.”
Saad said he could not believe he got all five numbers right. He said he was going for a night drive with his cousin and friends when he thought of logging in to his Mahzooz account to watch the draw.
He was shocked to learn he had won AED 10 million so he requested his cousin to stop the car in the middle of the desert to be able to fathom the situation. ““My hands were trembling. I had to pull over and double-check. I also asked my cousins if I really won,” he said.
“I’m so happy. This unexpected gift came to me just when I needed it most, and I want to thank Mahzooz for making a difference in my life ” Saad added.
Mahzooz has, last week, rolled out a limited time special offer, which allows participants an additional complementary entry into the weekly draw upon purchasing one bottle of water for AED 35.
Saad, a frequent participant, said he picked random numbers and gave the second slot to his wife, who also chose a random combination. His entry – 5, 14, 18, 24, 35 – won.
Saad, married with no children, arrived in the UAE back in 2014.
The limited-time offer is still running, enabling participants to avail a complementary entry into the draw, upon purchasing one bottle of water for AED 35. With the additional entry, participants get to pick an additional set of 5 numbers, thus, doubling their chances of winning.
It was the 96th weekly live Mahzooz draw and it also saw 110 winners share the second prize of AED 1,000,000 and 4,102 winners bag the third prize of AED 350 each. Additionally, three winners took home AED 300,000 in the raffle draw which features three guaranteed winners every week. The total prize money won in the 96th draw was AED 12,735,700.
Mahzooz has made 29 multi-millionaires and has so far given away close to 300,000,000 in prize money since it started operation some two years back.
