Indian expat in UAE wins Dh1 million Big Ticket prize, gives fortune to daughter
Monthly participation finally delivers memorable victories for several Indian expats
ABU DHABI – An Indian expat in the UAE has won Dh1 million in the latest Big Ticket raffle draw, with the life-changing prize arriving at a special moment for his family.
Kishoresh Rout, a 60-year-old business owner from Ranchi, plans to give the entire amount to his daughter as she prepares for her wedding. His win was among a combined Dh1.95 million in consolation prizes awarded to five Indian nationals in Big Ticket’s series 287 draw.
Rout, who has been living in the UAE with his family for nearly 18 years, discovered Big Ticket several years ago while frequently travelling through Abu Dhabi Airport. He later read more about the raffle online but only began participating regularly two years ago. The Dh1 million prize marks his first-ever win.
Dh1 million win
Rout revealed that his daughter had often discouraged him from purchasing raffle tickets, believing he would not win. However, he continued participating and even kept the winning ticket hidden from her.
“My daughter would always warn me whenever I went to buy a ticket, telling me that these raffle companies are a scam and that I would never win. But I never listened and kept participating,” he said.
He added that the ticket which brought him the Dh1 million prize was one he had intentionally kept away from his daughter. After receiving the winning news, she became the first person he called.
“We were both overjoyed,” Rout said.
The businessman also shared the small belief behind his ticket selection, explaining that he preferred a number where the digits added up to five. While he did not strongly rely on the idea, the number eventually became his winning combination.
Rout said the prize money will go directly towards supporting his daughter as she gets married, adding that it will help her during this important stage of her life.
Despite securing the major prize, Rout has no plans to stop participating. He said his daughter has now asked him to buy tickets on her behalf, and he has already purchased four more entries. His colleagues have also requested that he buy tickets for them, prompting him to suggest they participate as a group.
Other winners
The latest Big Ticket draw also brought major rewards for other Indian expatriates in the UAE. Sharjah-based salesman Jinoy Kumar won Dh500,000 after years of participating with a group of 20 friends.
The 42-year-old Kerala expatriate has lived in Sharjah for two decades and has been buying Big Ticket entries every month with his group. Although they regularly participated, this was their first win.
Kumar described the moment as a reward after years of waiting and plans to use the prize money for a family holiday later this year.
“We have been participating since so long and it feels amazing to finally win. I am so happy for all of us,” he said.
He also encouraged others to participate, saying group purchases can make the experience more enjoyable.
Another Indian expat, Sharad Kumar Singh from Uttar Pradesh, won Dh250,000 in the same series after making monthly entries for around two and a half years.
The 44-year-old software consultant, who has lived in the UAE since 2014, follows a simple approach by purchasing four random tickets every month. This time, it was his fourth ticket that brought his first Big Ticket win.
Singh said the winning call came during an ordinary day at work and quickly changed the moment into an unforgettable experience. He plans to use the prize money to support his future plans with his wife, who currently lives in India.
He has also confirmed that he will continue participating, hoping another major prize could come in the future.
Big Ticket: Next draw
Big Ticket continues to offer participants opportunities to win throughout June, including a Dh25 million grand prize, five Dh1 million prizes, weekly cash rewards, luxury cars and The Big Spin. The next grand prize draw is scheduled for July 3.