UAE residents, expats win Dh150,000 in Big Ticket’s weekly draw
Winners from UAE, Oman, and Qatar share plans for prize money
DUBAI: Big Ticket’s April excitement continues to spread joy across the region, as five lucky winners were announced in the third weekly e-draw, each taking home Dh150,000.
The draw, which is part of Big Ticket’s month-long promotional campaign, revealed an inspiring mix of individuals from the UAE, Oman, and Qatar – all united by persistence, teamwork, and a shared dream of winning big.
Minhaz Chowdhury, a 38-year-old Bangladeshi national based in Oman, finally got his lucky break after four years of consistently buying Big Ticket entries. Living in Oman for over 15 years and employed by a labour company, Minhaz joins a group of ten friends every month to purchase tickets.
“I only believed it after I received the confirmation email,” he said after initially thinking he had landed the grand prize. “Even though it wasn’t the big one, it’s still my first step towards the big win!” he added. His winnings are already earmarked – a new home and charitable contributions top his list.
Another Bangladeshi winner, Rabiul Hassan, 29, has been working as a driver in Qatar for the past eight years. Introduced to Big Ticket through a Facebook ad two to three years ago, Rabiul now regularly participates in group purchases with four friends. Upon receiving the call, he couldn’t contain his joy. “Of course, I can't explain – it was so exciting I could jump!”
Now, he plans to take a long-overdue family vacation – their first in over three years – and hopes to use the rest of his prize money to help those in need.
From the heart of Dubai, 43-year-old engineer Joji Isac also found his name among the winners. Originally from Kerala, India, Joji has been living in Dubai since 2007. He began purchasing Big Ticket entries in 2011 after hearing about the raffle through friends. Sometimes entering solo, and other times with a group of six, Joji never lost hope.
His reaction when he received the call was full of gratitude. “Oh, fantastic, over the moon! A win is always a win,” he shared. His story underlines the consistency and faith that many participants carry year after year.
Another winner from India, Packeer Ahamed Maraikhan, 38, who has been residing in Satwa, UAE for 18 years, works in plant operations. Packeer shares the ticket with a friend and has been trying his luck for around five years.
His winning moment came just after a night shift when he noticed missed calls on his phone while heading to prayer. “I had just come back and missed the first two calls,” he said. His prize will go towards supporting his family, and like the others, he views this win as a milestone in a much longer journey.
The fifth winner, Devadutt Vasudevan, also hailing from India, bought his winning ticket – number 274-390002 – online. While little else is known about his background, organisers confirmed that his enthusiasm was unmistakable.
Big Ticket April campaign
The April campaign from Big Ticket continues to offer significant rewards. In addition to the Dh25 million grand prize, participants can look forward to weekly Dh150,000 cash draws, two luxury car giveaways – a Range Rover Velar on May 3 and a BMW M440i on June 3 – and the Big Win Contest.
A special offer is also available throughout the month: buy two tickets, get two free. All tickets purchased during April automatically enter every weekly e-draw, with winners announced every Thursday. Tickets can be bought online or at counters in Zayed International Airport and Al Ain Airport.