Only one winner was chosen for the KT@40 campaign that ended on May 30, 2018.

For 64-year-old Khaleej Times subscriber Saifuddin Anandwala, June 25 will remain the most rewarding and memorable day of his life.

It was on this day that he was handed over the keys of his first car that he has owned in his 35 years of residing in UAE. He has received the car for free.

Anandwala, who hails from the state of Gujarat in India, said that this was the first time that he had ever won anything in his life. "I didn't believe when I got a call from Khaleej Times telling me that I had won a brand new XUV500 Mahindra vehicle as part of the KT@40 annual subscription campaign lucky draw," he said.

Talking about his decision regarding subscribing for Khaleej Times, Anandwala said that, "I had been a Khaleej Times subscriber many years ago but had stopped its subscription as I wasn't getting enough time to read the newspaper. However, off late I heard and saw some great stories in the newspaper and I thought as to why should I miss out on those and I was also missing the feel of the newspaper in the morning so I resumed the subscription just before the holy month of Ramadan began."

Anandwala conveyed that although he had a driving license but he never bought a car as his office had provided him with one for his sales job. "I have always had a driving license but never bought a car of my own. And neither did I have any idea that there was this lucky draw to be held on the occasion of Khaleej Times completing 40 years. When I received a call saying that I had won a car, I was completely shocked and assumed that someone was pulling a fast one on me but then they explained to me as to how it was part of a special offer as Khaleej Times turned 40 this year."

Calling it a gift from Almighty Allah, Saifuddin said: "A couple of my relatives had also subscribed for the newspaper with me but only I got selected, so I believe that this is a gift from Almighty Allah. My wife Munira and I were overjoyed as I sat her beside me on the passenger seat and took out her for a drive in my new car for the first time in 35 years of living in the UAE. I will remain grateful to Khaleej Times and Galadari Automobiles for giving me the gift of a lifetime. I will be reminded of this beautiful gift every year during Ramadan."

Only one winner was chosen for the KT@40 campaign that ended on May 30, 2018.

saman@khaleejtimes.com