Indian expat in Dubai wins Dh150K in Big Ticket Abu Dhabi draw – just a day after buying ticket

Dubai: After eight years of trying his luck, Indian expat Murthuja Ali Mahammed finally struck gold – winning Dh150,000 in Big Ticket’s weekly e-draw series 276, held in Abu Dhabi.

The facilities service executive, who has been living in Dubai for about a decade, was stunned when he got the phone call from the draw’s host, Richard.

“Wow, great. Thank you for calling me Mr Richard… I’m very happy,” said Mahammed, who revealed he had bought the winning ticket (No. 219148) just a day before the draw. “I waited for my salary, and once it got credited, I bought the ticket immediately.”

Having purchased Big Ticket entries every month without fail for eight years, Mahammed was overwhelmed with emotion.
“Oh God, is this real? I am so glad… I couldn’t even realise whether it was really happening – true or false,” he said.

With no concrete plans yet, Mahammed said: “I will use this money for good.”
His first call after the win? “I will call my mom.”

And no, he isn’t sharing the winnings with anyone else as he bought the ticket all by himself. “No, I am not sharing. It’s only for me,” he underlined.
Mahammed and other weekly e-draw winners stand a chance to bag the grand prize on July 3.

While three weekly draws are over and only one more remains before the grand finale, all eyes are on the Dh25 million grand prize, which will be awarded during the live draw on July 3. On the same day, three winners will also walk away with Dh75,000 each as consolation prizes. Tickets are available online at www.bigticket.ae or at counters located at Zayed International Airport and Al Ain Airport.