Watch: Indian expat in Abu Dhabi wins Dh25 million Big Ticket jackpot
Four other winners share massive cash prizes in the Big Win draw
ABU DHABI – An Indian engineer living in Abu Dhabi has struck luck, winning the Dh25-million Big Ticket grand prize in Series 280 of the raffle draw.
The winner, Saravanan Venkatachalam, claimed the jackpot with ticket number 463221, purchased on October 30.
Saravanan, a 44-year-old engineer from Chennai, has been buying Big Ticket entries for the past five years after learning about it from a former colleague. He said he initially missed the life-changing call because his phone was set to ‘Do Not Disturb’ while he was at work. Later, when the Big Ticket hosts tried calling again, the line rang once but went unanswered.
Missed calls and surprise moment
Show hosts Richard and Bouchra first announced Saravanan’s name live on air, only to find his phone switched off. “What a terrible time to switch your phone off,” Richard quipped. “We will find you,” added Bouchra, as the team kept attempting to reach the new millionaire.
When Saravanan finally learnt about his win through friends and family, he was overwhelmed. “I was completely blank. I didn’t know how to react. All I can say is that I’m deeply grateful and overjoyed,” he said.
He shared that a portion of his winnings will go towards his child’s education, while the rest will be carefully planned for the family’s future. “I’ll discuss everything with my family before making any big decisions,” he added.
Big Win draw
Four other participants also walked away with significant winnings. Lazar Joseph from Sharjah secured Dh110,000 and plans to share it among 14 people, using his share for his daughter’s education. Thiyagarajan Periyaswami, who has lived in Abu Dhabi for ten years, won Dh130,000 and plans to buy a new car. Mohammed Elias from Al Ain bagged Dh150,000, while Ijas Yunus also won and intends to gift something special to his wife and child.
In the Dream Car Draw, a Bangladeshi expat from Al Ain drove away with a brand-new Nissan Patrol, holding the winning number 008475.
Race and yacht experience
Big Ticket has launched a special promotion for November ticket buyers. Those purchasing between November 1 and 21 will automatically enter an E-draw to win a Race and Luxury Yacht Experience in Abu Dhabi.
Thirty winners will each receive Dh10,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to attend the race weekend at Yas Marina on December 6 and 7, including a three-night stay at a five-star hotel, concert tickets, and transportation. Winners living outside the UAE will also be flown in with full travel arrangements.
During the yacht event, more cash prizes will be up for grabs, including Dh250,000 awarded live on both days. The names of the 30 winners will be announced on December 1 on the Big Ticket website.
December draws and promotions
All tickets bought between November 1 and 30 will enter the December 3 live draw, where one lucky winner will claim the grand Dh25-million jackpot, and ten others will each win Dh100,000.
The Dream Car Series continues with a Maserati Grecale to be given away in December and a BMW 430i in the January 3 draw.
To mark the festive season, Big Ticket is also running special bundle offers:
- Big Ticket: Buy 2 tickets, get 2 free
- Dream Car: Buy 2 tickets, get 2 free
This month’s promotion offers not just multi-million-dirham prizes but also the chance for luxury experiences and unforgettable rewards for Big Ticket participants.