{
  "id": 9349154,
  "title": "'I told you before my family': Indian shop worker in Abu Dhabi dreams of new life after winning $1m million",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/i-told-you-before-my-family-indian-shop-worker-in-abu-dhabi-dreams-of",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-23T14:21:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/09/23/abu-dhabi-storekeeper-1-million-dubai-duty-free-winner-indian-businessman/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A 36-year-old Indian shop worker named Saravanan Malairaj, who has lived in Abu Dhabi for 17 years, recently won the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire draw, taking home a $1 million prize. At first, the windfall was met with disbelief, but Mr. Malairaj expressed that the money would pave the way for a better future for his four-year-old twins. The unexpected prize came as a surprise, as he had never won a raffle before. He revealed that life had been difficult in Chennai, where he sold family land to help pay for his sister's marriage. He currently earns Dh8,000 a month working at a shop selling construction equipment. Mr. Malairaj plans to invest the prize money in his children's education and to eventually return to India, where he hopes to open a shop. He hopes to spend more time with his children now that they are older. Mr. Malairaj is among two Indian residents who won $1 million in Wednesday's draw. Another Indian citizen, Bhanu Sobhani, a 40-year-old Dubai resident and textile factory owner, also won the same amount in Series 557.",
  "summary": "A shop worker in Abu Dhabi , who left Chennai 17 years ago to support his family, won $1 million (Dh3.67 million) in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire draw on Wednesday. Saravanan Malairaj, 36, said the windfall would help him secure a better future for his twins, a boy and a girl aged four, and be able spend more time with them. Dubai Duty Free informed him of his win at 12.15pm but out…",
  "key_points": [
    "Saravanan Malairaj, 36, Indian shop worker in Abu Dhabi, wins $1 million",
    "Prize money to improve life for his four-year-old twins",
    "Plans to invest in children's education and return to India"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "'I told you before my family': Indian shop worker in Abu Dhabi dreams of new life after winning $1m million",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/i-told-you-before-my-family-indian-shop-worker-in-abu-dhabi-dreams-of-9349547",
        "published": "2026-09-23T14:21:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}