Dubai millionaires talk about plans for winnings

The men, who split a Dh900 raffle ticket, have different plans for their money, but both will help out family.

DUBAI // When Alvin Cruz Gutierrez and Vishwanath Devadiga bought their Dh900 raffle ticket, they never expected to win a million US dollars.

The workers at the seafood restaurant Ocean Basket, at Dubai International Airport, were shocked to find out they were the winners of the 190th Millennium Millionaire Draw on Tuesday.

“I felt so happy when I found out,” said Mr Gutierrez, a 27-year-old Filipino and resident of Dubai for seven years.

“I was sleeping when the draw was announced at midnight but I saw so many missed calls. I was tired because I worked the night shift, so I didn’t call back.”

Mr Devadiga called at 2am to give him the good news.

“When he told me I won, I thought I was still dreaming,” he said. “I really thought it was a joke.”

It only sank in when he received a congratulations letter.

“That’s when I believed it,” he said. “Vishwanath convinced me to get the ticket with him so we split it – Dh450 each – and I kept thinking I could have paid my Dewa with that. It’s a lot of money, Dh10,000 alone can go a long long way in the Philippines.”

The friends will each receive half of the million dollar prize.

Mr Gutierrez said he would use his winnings to pay off the mortgage on an apartment in his home country and buy another one. He also wants to set up a charity in the Philippines,

“This happens once in a lifetime so you need to make a good business out of it,” he said.

“One day, that money might run out so we need to work and save it, and increase it to help more poor people in the Philippines. But I have a lot of family who need help and that has to come first.”

The pair want to keep their jobs, which they enjoy.

“I don’t want to change anything,” said Mr Devadiga.

“I am happy working here. Maybe I can move all my family to Dubai. I am not sure yet but I am starting to plan.”

The 32-year-old Indian, originally from Mangalore, said the money should be used for the greater good.

“I came to Dubai because I kept working small jobs in India in restaurants, a garage and in medicine supply,” he said. “But I didn’t make a lot of money so I moved to Dubai three years ago.”

His family were in tears when they found out the news.

“We’re not a rich family, which is why such a big amount makes a huge difference to us,” he said. “Alvin is my partner and my best friend, so I’m very happy we won together.”

Now in its 16th year, 5,000 people entered the Dubai Duty Free draw.