It felt like a dream: Indian expat in Dubai who won Dh1 million UAE Lottery ahead of his wedding

Dubai: Lady luck smiled on an Indian expat in Dubai recently as he won Dh1 million in the UAE Lottery’s Lucky Day Draw ahead of his wedding that is scheduled to take place soon.

Ananth Perumalsamy, a 33-year-old accountant from the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu is the latest and third millionaire of the game-based lottery.

Working with a shipping company that specialises in repairs and maintenance for the marine and offshore sector, Ananth has been participating in the lottery since it was launched in December, 2025.

“I always had this quiet hope that maybe, just maybe, my day would come,” he told Gulf News.

“I just opened my account on the website like I usually do, and right there it said ‘Congratulations’. I didn’t know what to think. I reached out to customer support right away, and they told me someone from the prize team would call. Soon after, I got the call, and everything changed at that moment.”

His initial reaction was a mix of disbelief and joy. “I was with my friend when I saw it. He was actually still sleeping. I woke him up and said, ‘We won.’ He looked at me, confused, and we both just sat in silence for a bit. It felt like a dream.”

With his wedding just around the corner, the timing could not have been better. It was the biggest surprise to share with his fiancée.

Ananth, who comes from a modest background, said the money will go a long way in fulfilling long-held dreams.

“My family back home doesn’t have much. We’ve always lived a simple life. I’ve always wanted to build a house for my mother, and I’m getting married soon, so I was already worried about how I would manage everything. I feel so blessed as this prize came at the right time,” he shared.

“My wedding comes first. That is the immediate plan. After that, I’ll start building a house for my family. A real home, something they can call their own. That’s been my dream for a long time.”

He also has his eye on a specific Toyota model he’s long admired and plans to finally make that purchase in Dubai.

He has a charitable heart as well. He said part of the prize will go towards supporting students with their education back home. "This isn’t just luck. It’s a blessing. I want to give back, especially to young people working hard on their education."

However, he might still need a lot more money to achieve all that his heart desires as he is sharing the jackpot with 11 other friends who used to pool Dh100 to buy two tickets every fortnight. Now, they would be sharing the prize money and Ananth would take home around just Dh85,000.

So, he still hopes to win bigger and one day, be the lucky one to win the Dh100million grand prize.

“This win gave me new hope. I’ll keep playing. Who knows, maybe next time I’ll win the Dh100 million grand prize. If that ever happens, I’ll donate some of it, and I’ll open my own business here in Dubai,” he said.

As for advice to others considering buying a ticket, Ananth said: “I’d tell them to keep on playing. Always play responsibly and within your limits. One day, it might be your name they call. But you have to take that first step to even have a chance.”