An Indian architect is the first winner of a life-changing draw in the UAE meaning he will receive Dh25,000 each month for the next 25 years.
Mohd Adil Khan, a Sharjah resident who works with a construction company in Dubai, said winning the Emirates Draw FAST5 would help him bring his family over from India to live in a new home that he hopes to buy.
“I can do whatever I have dreamt of, it changes my life,” Mr Khan told The National.
“I live here alone and my family visits sometimes. It was my dream for my family to be with me but I could not do that without this win.”
This changes my life
Mohd Adil Khan,
first winner of Emirates Draw FAST5
Second salary
Organisers said Mr Khan would receive Dh25,000 ($6,806) in his bank account every month for the next 25 years.
The prize is different from other draws that pay one large amount to winners.
Mr Khan said receiving monthly instalments instead of a Dh7.5 million payout worked better for him.
“This is like a second salary,” he said.
“I can buy a nice apartment or villa of my own in the UAE.
“It also works like a pension so I can plan for my retirement and continue to live in the UAE.
“I appreciate this so much more because the money will come every month instead of a lump sum in one shot.”
Covid-19 took his brother’s life
The 33-year-old is from the Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh in northern India where his five-year-old son and wife live with his parents.
Mr Khan’s elder brother died in India during the Covid-19 pandemic and his family has never recovered from this loss.
Bringing the family together will help his elderly parents to cope.
"The loss of my brother left a deep hole in our lives,” Mr Khan said.
“He took care of our extended family back home and this became my responsibility. It has been a challenging time for all of us.”
Mr Khan regularly helps friends and family in need.
As a young student, he was able to qualify as an architect when wealthy relatives funded his higher education in India.
He worked in Saudi Arabia before taking a job in Dubai in 2018.
“I always try to help people so I give 10 to 20 per cent of my salary to friends or people who need it,” he said.
“I feel I have a responsibility to help people and God gives us an opportunity to take care of people.”
First time buying tickets for such a draw
This is the first time that Mr Khan has bought tickets for a prize draw.
“I saw an Emirates Draw online advertisement and thought maybe luck would favour me,” he said.
“I bought five tickets at the same time for Dh25 each, so I spent only Dh125.
“I have never purchased any ticket like this in Dubai or in India.”
The raffle will make another dream, to travel around the world, come true, with Mr Khan keen to visit Finland as a first stop.
“I hear Finland is the happiest country in the world so I want to see a country that is full of joy,” he said.
“I want to see their happiness.”
Guarantee for 25 years
Emirates Draw has said it is contractually bound to make the monthly payments in accordance with UAE laws.
"As a UAE-based organisation, we are committed to maintaining the integrity and reputation of the UAE by delivering on all promises made to our participants,” said Mohammad Behroozian Alawadhi, managing partner of Emirates Draw, in a statement.
The FAST5 draw takes place every Saturday at 9pm.
Apart from Mr Khan winning in the main draw, three others won prizes of Dh75,000, Dh50,000 and Dh25,000, respectively.
People can participate by purchasing a Dh25 ticket on the Emirates Draw website or app.
Playing records of the top 10 in 2017
How many games the top 10 have undertaken in the 2017 ATP season
1. Rafael Nadal 58 (49-9)
2. Andy Murray 35 (25-10)
3. Roger Federer 38 (35-3)
4. Stan Wawrinka 37 (26-11)
5. Novak Djokovic 40 (32-8)
6. Alexander Zverev 60 (46-14)
7. Marin Cilic 43 (29-14)
8. Dominic Thiem 60 (41-19)
9. Grigor Dimitrov 48 (34-14)
10. Kei Nishikori 43 (30-13)
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
SPECS
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The specs: 2018 Audi R8 V10 RWS
Price: base / as tested: From Dh632,225
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 540hp @ 8,250rpm
Torque: 540Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.4L / 100km
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
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Available: Now
How to avoid crypto fraud
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Jumanji: The Next Level
Director: Jake Kasdan
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Nick Jonas
Two out of five stars
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
