The UAE's Big Ticket raffle has made 15 new millionaires in one night, thanks to some birthday luck.
Dubai resident Sakil Khan shared the Dh15 million jackpot from Thursday's latest monthly draw with 14 friends.
The Indian citizen, who works as an engineering co-ordinator at an IT company, plans to clear his debts and start a business with his slice of the fortune.
He picked out the winning numbers on his birthday, securing a special gift he will never forget.
The group have been taking part in the long-running draw since 2015.
“Usually, I select raffle ticket numbers randomly,” he said.
“This time, though, I purchased the tickets on my birthday and really thought hard about the numbers I chose.”
In the driving seat
It also proved a memorable night for Mintu Chandra, a Bangladeshi citizen who lives in Al Ain, who was the latest winner in the separate Jeep Series draw.
“When I found out I won, I could hardly believe it,” said Mr Chandra, who works at a hair salon and is now the proud owner of a brand new Jeep Wrangler.
“My brother was the one who first shared the news with me and – along with a group of my friends – verified the win through the Big Ticket website.
“This has been the happiest moment for me – and for my wife and two children, who were so excited to hear I won.”
The raffle has been transforming lives since its inception in 1992.
Live draws are held every month with the mega Dh15 million top prize and further cash prizes ranging from Dh20,000 to Dh100,000.
UAE Big Ticket winners - in pictures
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UAE residents who struck lucky with Abu Dhabi's Big Ticket draw attended a gala dinner. Organisers of the draw celebrated the winners' good luck at the Alexandra Dhow Cruise in Dubai Marina. All photos by Leslie Pableo / The National -
Richard Isaac and Bouchra Yamani, the two presenters who pick out the raffle tickets and call the winners, interacted with the winners. Some of attendees had won jackpots of between Dh1 million to Dh15 million, while others won Dh90,000 -
'The National' spoke to winners about how they have spent their grand prize. Shivamurthy Gali Krishnappa won Dh12 million last month. He said he wants to save for his children's future. For now, he is still working as a mechanical engineer for a stainless steel production company -
Shahed Ahmed Moulvifaiz, a Bangladeshi car garage owner in Al Ain, won Dh10 million less than a week ago. He wants to bring his family to the UAE, expand his business and spend on his youngest son's education -
Jayaprakash Mariyan Philip had won the Dh1 million prize with nine other people. The funds were split equally, leaving him with Dh100,000. He said he has paid off part of his bank loans -
Zaheenn Kausar was visiting her husband in Abu Dhabi from Pakistan, when he bought a ticket under her name. She proved lucky for her family after winning Dh90,000. She wants to pay for her daughter's university tuition and buy a car for herself -
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 5,000 people would gather during a live event in Abu Dhabi to watch the draw take place. Since 2020, the draw streams live on social media channels, bringing in even larger crowds -
Many people buy multiple tickets together and then split the prize equally. There are also those who win after buying a ticket alone, allowing them to keep the entire jackpot -
The Abu Dhabi Big Draw has been changing lives since 1992 -
The ticket for the grand prize costs Dh500
