Kerala’s Saidali Kannan Wins UAE Jackpot Again After 24 Years of Buying Lottery Tickets, Plans to Share Winnings with Friends

In a heartwarming tale of persistence and luck, Saidali Kannan, a private chef from Kerala, has won a whopping five lakh dirhams (approximately one crore rupees) in a lottery through a raffle draw in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Kannan, purchasing lottery tickets for the past 24 years, first tasted victory in 2022 with a smaller cash prize. However, this year, his continued efforts finally paid off in a big way.

Kannan’s life changed on February 22 when his number came up in the grand raffle draw. A modest man by nature, he expressed his joy at winning the lottery. He clarified that he would not keep the entire amount for himself. Instead, Kannan plans to share his newfound wealth with his friends, who helped him purchase the tickets over the years.

“I will be sharing the money with my friends who supported me in buying the lottery ticket,” Kannan said. He was particularly grateful to Abdul Majeed, a close friend who has been with him for long years of ticket purchases. Majeed, who has been buying tickets with Kannan for two decades, was also excited about the win. The two friends had been pooling their money to buy monthly tickets, believing their persistence would eventually pay off. “I have been sharing the ticket amount with Saidali every month for 20 years. I believe it is fortunate. I have been doing this for a long time, and now we have f, finally w, on the lottery,” Majeed said.

Their story is about friendship and persistence, with both men keeping faith in their luck despite years of playing the lottery without any significant wins. Kannan, a chef in Abu Dhabi, says that the lottery was more than just a chance to make money; it symbolized his determination to keep trying, no matter how many years it took.

While the win has brought joy to Kannan and his friends, it is not the only instance of a lucky Indian making it big in the UAE’s lottery scene. In a similar turn of events, another person from Kerala, Ranjit Somaranjan, also hit the jackpot in July of the previous year. Somaranjan, a driver by profession, won an incredible two crore dirhams (approximately 40 crore rupees) in the same type of raffle draw. His story, like Kannan’s, is one of faith and persistence.

“I never thought I would hit the jackpot. I always thought maybe I would win second or third place someday,” Somaranjan said in an interview. He had been buying lottery tickets for about three years before his life-changing win. The money, Somaranjan shared, would go a long way in changing his life and the lives of his family members. Somaranjan, a driver with several taxi companies in the UAE since 2018, shared that he had been purchasing tickets with nine other friends from various countries. Like Kannan’s, his win was not just a personal victory, but one shared with others.

Somaranjan’s massive win came as a complete surprise to him. He had been playing the lottery alongside his friends for a while but never imagined he would win the grand prize. “I was just hoping for a smaller prize, but to win the jackpot was beyond anything I could have ever dreamed of,” he said. The feeling of winning such a large sum of money was overwhelming. Still, Somaranjan quickly shared his good fortune with his friends, who had supported him throughout the process.

These two stories highlight the power of persistence and hope and how dreams can come true for people who keep trying, no matter the odds. Kannan and Somaranjan’s wins reflect a broader trend of Indians in the UAE hitting it big in lottery draws. This phenomenon has gained attention over the years due to the growing number of expatriates participating in such raffles.

The UAE’s lottery system, particularly its raffle draws, has become an avenue for many expatriates to try their luck and potentially change their lives. While winning the lottery is still rare, stories like Kannan’s and Somaranjan’s show it is out of reach. Both men were diligent in their attempts and patient with their pursuits, keeping their faith alive despite years of playing without significant returns.

Kannan’s story will inspire others to keep going after their dreams, no matter how long it may take. His and Majeed’s 20-year friendship, built on a shared belief in luck, has resulted in a life-changing win. For Somaranjan, his unexpected jackpot has provided him with the financial security he had long hoped for, and his story serves as a reminder that persistence can sometimes lead to unimaginable rewards.

The ripple effect of these wins is also felt in their communities, as both men plan to share a portion of their wealth with others. Kannan’s decision to distribute his winnings among his friends reflects the sense of community that often binds people together in the UAE, especially among the expatriate population.

As the UAE continues to host many expatriates worldwide, the stories of people like Saidali Kannan and Ranjit Somaranjan will keep hope alive for many others looking to make a fresh start or achieve their dreams through the lottery. For Kannan and Majeed, the win is more than just about money—it’s about years of shared hope, hard work, and the belief that luck could strike at any moment.

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