After 300 DDF tickets, he finally hits $1M jackpot

dubai — A 48-year-old Jordanian expat, who claims to have purchased over 300 raffle tickets in Dubai, has finally struck it big. After trying for 19 years, the expat won the $1 million (Dh3.67 million) Dubai Duty Free raffle draw on Tuesday. Nidal Marwan Taha told Khaleej

Times he’s been buying the tickets “every time” he travelled since the inception of the Millennium Millionaire programme in 1999.

“I have bought at least 300 tickets over the past 19 years. This

I’m a firm believer of the philosophy that once you chase a goal, you will inevitably get it. That’s what Dubai has been demonstrating to us. Nidal Marwan Taha,

Jordanian expat

time alone, I bought three tickets for the draw, and thankfully one of them scored,” said Taha, who

has been living in the UAE for the past 28 years.

The Jordanian CEO, who travels on “a monthly basis for work”, said buying the Dh1,000 raffle ticket has become a “part of my trips”.

“Just like shopping at the Dubai Duty Free, I never miss a chance to participate in the Millennium Millionaire whenever I travel,” said Taha, a father of three. “I’m a firm believer of the philosophy that once you chase a goal, you will inevitably get it. That’s what Dubai has been demonstrating to us. I’m thrilled that my perseverance has finally paid off.”

Taha noted that although he had a “gut feeling” that he would win some day, the announcement this year was unexpected. He said he would donate a part of the $1 million to charity, while he’d invest the rest.

Despite the win, Taha said he’d continue buying the raffle draw tickets every time he travels.