Emirates Draw: Dreams come true for Iranian expat in UAE and other winners abroad
MEGA7, FAST5 saw participants from Iran, Egypt, US, India, Senegal, Pakistan bag prizes
Dubai: From paying off loans to funding children’s education, Emirates Draw continues to bring opportunities to participants around the world.
In the recent 88th edition of the MEGA7 game, three individuals won big: Farzad Heydar Gholi Zaraei from Iran, Gerges Naguib Mina from Egypt, and Joseph Chacko from the US. These winners shared the Second Prize of Dh250,000, missing the historic Grand Prize of Dh100 million by just one number.
Additionally, the second FAST5 Raffle Draw saw Anas Mokagikkal from India, Mohamad Mikhael Iskandarani from Senegal, and Amir Khan Said Habib from Pakistan, win Dh75,000, Dh50,000, and Dh25,000, respectively.
Sharing with others
Zaraei, 40, said: “I am not keeping any of the money for myself. Half of my winnings will go towards my daughter’s education, while the remaining half will be shared with my friends and family who need it.”
Zaraei has been living in Dubai for 17 years and owns a bicycle shop in Deira. For a year, he participated in 130 games before winning the prize. “My ultimate dream will be to win AED 100 million... None of it [will be] for me. Half will go to my family and friends, and the rest will go to my wife,” he quipped.
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The FAST5 Raffle Draw, which offers participants the fastest route to winning Dh25,000 every month for 25 years with a single Dh25 ticket, also made dreams come true for Anas Mokagikkal, a driver from Kerala, India based in Qatar, who won Dh75,000 prize in the second draw.
He found out about his win while he was behind the wheel, chauffeuring his sponsor’s family. The moment was delivered via a screenshot from a friend, Mokagikkal displaying as the winner.
“I was very surprised when I saw the screenshot sent by my friend, as we have been participating in the Emirates Draw games together for nearly a year. I had to double-check my email to confirm that I had won,” Mokagikkal said.
Solving finances
The father-of-three revealed that there was still plenty of work ahead for his growing family. He lives with his wife, who also works as a driver, and the prize has helped them solve financial matters. Mokagikkal plans to use the winnings to pay off rent, settle outstanding debts, and allocate funds for much-needed home repairs in India.
“This incredible prize from Emirates Draw will undoubtedly help us bring our finances in order.”
Weekly winners
Participants can win the Grand Prize of Dh25,000 every month for the next 25 years in the FAST5 draw, held every Saturday at 9pm UAE time, with the next game set to be broadcast live today, June 10.
Additionally, the unclaimed Dh100 million Grand Prize in the MEGA7 draw is still up for grabs, making it the “largest prize ever offered across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia”. It is held every Sunday at 9pm UAE time, with the next game set to be broadcast live tomorrow, June 11.