.svg)
Indian and Bangladeshi expatriates are among the fortunate winners of the latest weekly Big Ticket e-draw held in Abu Dhabi, with five individuals each taking home a prize of Dh50,000.
One of the winners, Mustafa Mohammed, a 37-year-old banker from India, has been living in Dubai with his family for the past 14 years. A regular participant in Big Ticket draws for the past four years, Mustafa purchases tickets every month with a group of six close friends.
“When I first received the call, I genuinely thought it was a prank,” he said. “Even now, it feels surreal—but I’m incredibly grateful and happy.” While he and his group haven’t yet decided how they will use the prize money, one thing is clear: “We’ll definitely continue buying tickets and aim for the grand prize!” He also encouraged others to participate, saying, “Big Ticket is a genuine raffle—it’s something everyone should take part in.”
Another winner, Praful Dhar, an Indian expatriate, was thrilled to discover he had won with ticket number 402897.
Eyasin Arafat Mohammed Nurul Islam, a 45-year-old Bangladeshi supermarket employee who has been living in Dubai for the past 15 years, was also among the lucky winners. He learned about Big Ticket three years ago and has since been consistently purchasing tickets as part of a group of 14 friends.
“I was overjoyed when I received the winning call,” he said. “Our plan is to divide the prize among all group members. And yes, we will definitely continue purchasing Big Ticket entries.”
Another Bangladeshi winner, Mohammed Ibrahim Shiraj Miah, was equally ecstatic when he received the news of his win with ticket number 102594.
Also joining the winners’ circle was David El Hasrouty, a 45-year-old real estate business owner from Lebanon who has lived in Dubai for the past 20 years. A loyal Big Ticket customer for the last eight years, David has always purchased his tickets independently.
“I was overjoyed when I received the winning call,” he shared. “I even told Richard that I’ll be waiting for his next call on June 3.” David intends to use his winnings to pay off some outstanding credit loans and remains committed to entering future draws. Offering his advice to others, he said, “If you buy, you have a chance to win. But if you don’t, then your chance is zero. So go ahead—participate and try your luck!”
These stories highlight not only the excitement of winning but also the sense of community and optimism shared among Big Ticket participants from different walks of life.
