(Image source from: Khaleej Times)

An Indian expat driver from the United Arab Emirates has won 1 million dirhams in a raffle, according to a media report on Saturday.

Hailing from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, the 43-year-old Abdul Salam Shanavas, told The Khaleej Times: "Even if I had worked for 50 years, I wouldn't have earned anything close to this amount.

"I arrived here in 1997 empty-handed, but with a lot of expectations. I took my driver's license and started off as a driver in Sharjah but couldn't save much. I then moved to Abu Dhabi as a family driver and now earn 2,500 dirhams."

Shanavas, who had spent more than 200 dirhams Khalidiyah Mall to enter the campaign draw, won the mega prize through the 'Mall Millionaire' campaign launched by Line Investments and Property at its eight malls in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

This drive comes as part of 47-day Retail Abu Dhabi summer sales by the Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism.

By Sowmya Sangam