From Dh50 to Dh50K: 40 Indian expats in UAE win Big Ticket after 15 years

After nearly 15 years of trying their luck, a group of 40 friends in Umm Al Quwain are finally celebrating a Big Ticket win.
Anthony Ashok, an Indian expat from Bengaluru who bought the ticket along with his colleagues, bagged Dh50,000 in this month’s raffle draw.
“I’ve been living in the UAE for the past 20 years,” said Anthony, who will turn 50 soon. “This is our first win after so many years.”

What began as a small circle of four or five friends pooling money for tickets has today grown into a lively group of 40 colleagues.
“We even have a Big Ticket WhatsApp group where I’m the admin,” Anthony laughed. “Everyone in the group works in the same construction company,” he said, noting that each person chips in Dh50 to Dh100 each month, contributing between Dh2,500 and Dh3,000 to buy tickets.

“There are engineers, foremen, labourers, and office boys among us. Their salaries range from Dh1,000 to Dh12,000. All our families live back home,” said Anthony, who works as an accommodation supervisor.

For the group, this small win feels like a big reward for years of patience.
“You have to keep trying until you win,” Anthony said with a grin. “We’ve already bought tickets for the next draw.”

And their eyes are now on the real prize: next month’s Dh15 million jackpot.
“We all dream of winning millions one day,” Anthony said.
“That would settle all our lives.”