Cabbie wins Dh40,000 worth of gold after shopping for fiancée in UAE

Bangladeshi ex-pat Ghulam Mustafa has been using a taxi in Dubai for the ultimate six years.

A 26-year-vintage cabbie has gained Dh40,000 well worth of gold coins after getting his fiancée a Dh1,600 present - which he stated turned into the biggest purchase he has ever made.

He became one of the fortunate winners of a raffle draw that the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group (DGJG) currently held for the landmark 25th version of the Dubai Shopping Festival.

Bangladeshi expat Ghulam Mustafa, who has been riding a taxi in Dubai for the final six years, become getting ready for his wedding, scheduled at the quit of the month in his home country, when he came across some gives at the continuing DSF.

"I have by no means concept about buying gold in my life, but I wanted to present something special to my fiancée at our wedding. When I went to one of the jewellery stores at a mall, I turned into instructed that with each jewellery buy of Dh500, I might be entitled to 1 raffle coupon that might win me a number of gold coins in raffle draws," he stated.

"I went beforehand and shopped for Dh1,six hundred gold that included a hoop and a chain - the maximum I actually have ever spent on shopping."

A couple of days later, Ghulam received a name from a DGJG representative, informing him that he won 25 unique edition 'Dubai City of Gold' coins, each weighing 8g.

He idea he was being pranked. "Initially it changed into very difficult to believe that I had simply gained. I used to hear tales approximately human beings winning, but I usually thought that I can't be that lucky. I again and again requested the man or woman on the telephone to verify if it become certainly me," the cabbie instructed Khaleej Times.

Mustafa, who earns about Dh3,000 a month, stated restrained job possibilities in his country added him to the UAE and, being the only breadwinner of his own family, he shoulders the duty of taking care of his mother and father and siblings.

"I can't consider my luck. My bride-to-be is already lucky for me. I am planning to apply the gold coins to shop for some unique gifts for my bride-to-be and my family members. The relaxation of the gold cash could be used for my wedding," he stated.

Lucky families

A mother-and-daughter duo additionally were given fortunate as they won Dh34,000 really worth of gold at the DGJG draw. Archana, 20, and her mom Meenakshi Sunil, 43, were in Dubai for a six-day visit to fulfill her father who works in Dubai.

Since Meenakshi has a habit of investing money in gold, she and her daughter bought Dh23,000 really worth of jewelry from a shop at the Deira Gold Souk on December 28.

"We offered chains, one was a 40g chain, any other for 12g, along with multiple bangles. On December 31, Archana acquired a call, and I also were given a name on January 1 from DGJG, informing us that we had gained 15 and 10 special editions 'Dubai City of Gold' cash, respectively," said an excited Meenakshi.

Asked what she might do with the gold cash, Meenakshi said: "It's like a brand new year gift to me and my daughter. I am now not going to use these coins. I will maintain them secure and use it handiest for some thing auspicious or very important."

Ten gold cash worth Dh15,000 turned into also won via Dubai-based Indian expat Sobin T. Babu, whose wife Reshma Sobin and their one-year-antique son Dakshan Sobin were on the town with him on a go to until January 11.

"I wanted to give a parting gift to my son, so I offered him a gold bracelet well worth Dh1,six hundred. My wife stuffed out the coupons in his name although I discouraged her, saying I actually have in no way even won a pen in my life," Sobin told Khaleej Times.

"In the automobile, Dakshan even played with the coupons and tore one among them, however we failed to care much till the following day while I got a call from the DGJG, announcing our raffle price ticket had gained us some gold cash.

"I rushed to my car to retrieve the partially damaged coupons and fortunately were given two of the three raffle tickets intact,"