Meet 4 expats who won in latest Big Ticket draw in UAE

Khaldoun Saimouah, a 47-year-old Chief Operating Officer from Canada, who has been calling Dubai home for the past 25 years, won Dh90,000. He has been a loyal Big Ticket customer since 2010. He first discovered Big Ticket through a billboard and has been consistently purchasing tickets for the past several months. After years of trying his luck, his persistence has finally paid off.

He already has plans for how to use his winnings, with dreams of exploring new countries and traveling to new destinations. His belief in Big Ticket remains, in fact, on the very same day he received the winning call, he purchased another ticket, staying committed to his routine of buying two tickets per month. For those still waiting for their big moment, his advice is simple: “Don’t quit and your day will come.”

Akshay Tandon, a 39-year-old finance professional from India, won another Dh90,000. He has been living in Dubai for the past eight years, first discovered Big Ticket through social media and word of mouth. With many of his colleagues regularly purchasing tickets, he decided to try his luck and has been participating since early 2024, buying seven to eight tickets over the past year and a half.

When he received the winning call, the news took a moment to sink in. Now, he plans to invest his winnings and is even considering buying a new car. His confidence in Big Ticket remains strong, he has already purchased his tickets for this month and remains optimistic about future draws, with the hope of winning the grand prize one day.

Mohammed Abdul Aziz Jabal, a 56-year-old private driver from Bangladesh, was the third winner of a Dh90,000 prize. He has been living in Abu Dhabi since 1995. As a loyal Big Ticket customer since the very beginning, he has been purchasing tickets as part of a group of 45 people.

When he received the winning call, he was surprised to learn that he had won. “I was so shocked, but also very happy,” he shared. For him, the win isn’t just a personal victory – “the win is not only for me and my family but also for my friends and their families,” he says. His plans are to split the prize money with his group and enjoy the rest with his family. Despite his win, he’s committed to continuing to purchase tickets and looks forward to more wins in his Big Ticket journey.

Another Indian expat, Robin Varghese, won the fourth Dh90,000 prize. The Keralite has been calling Dubai home since 2009. He first learned about Big Ticket through his friends, who regularly participated in the draws. Inspired by their enthusiasm, he joined them, and together, they formed a group dedicated to purchasing tickets every month. Since 2016, Robin has been a loyal Big Ticket customer, never missing a draw.

When he received the winning call, he was in disbelief – “I didn’t believe it and thought it might be a scam” – he shared. But once the news sank in, he was overwhelmed with joy. Robin plans to share his winnings with his group of 10 friends, while also treating himself and his wife to a new phone. His dedication to Big Ticket remains strong, and he encourages others to stay hopeful: “There will be a day for everyone, be patient, keep going, and if you’re lucky, you could be the next winner!”