Dubai: For one expatriate in the UAE, great fortune comes after religiously betting on a lottery for years.
Mohammed Kunhi Mayyala, who have been buying raffle tickets for two years, was declared the latest winner of Big Ticket Abu Dhabi’s "Super 7 Series" draw on Wednesday.
The Indian national, who purchased a ticket bearing lucky numbers 121013 recently, scooped up a total of Dh7 million.
Unlike some Big Ticket winners, Mayyala will be keeping the prize all to himself, since he purchased the raffle coupon alone.
He joins a long list of expatriates who have turned multi-millionaires overnight after betting on the popular raffle draw.
Mayyala said he was surprised to receive a call from the raffle organisers at first and thought that he had been pranked.
“[I] could not believe it. I thought it’s just a fake call but it’s my lucky day,” he said.
Nevertheless, he said he will use his winnings to finally build his dream house and start a business.
“It’s a big change in my life and it’s because of the Bit Ticket. Now, I can build my house, have a business of my own and will help the need ones as planned,” he said.
The winner last month also hailed from India and won Dh12 million through the monthly jackpot draw.
Aside from Mayyala, seven other Big Ticket participants won a cash prize of Dh100,000 each. Four of the minor prize winners are from India, two are from Pakistan and one is from Kenya.
Cash prizes luxury cars
Big Ticket is the largest and longest-running monthly raffle draw for cash prizes and dream luxury cars in Abu Dhabi.
These tickets can be purchased online or at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Al Ain Duty Free and City Terminal Abu Dhabi.
Tickets remain at their usual price of just Dh500, and if you buy two tickets one ticket is given for free under buy-one-get-one free scheme.
