Indian Expat Wins Dh25 Million Jackpot in Big Ticket Draw

Key facts

• Abdul Rasheed Allipra Valappil Abdu won the Dh25 million Big Ticket jackpot.
• Abdu, a 48-year-old driver from Kerala, purchased ticket number 012318 on April 19.
• Five other Indian expatriates won Dh1 million each in the same draw.
• Chaithanya Kumari, a 44-year-old software engineer, was one of the Dh1 million winners.
• Murali Vazhayli, a 50-year-old supervisor, also secured Dh1 million as part of a 20-person group.
• Rajath Upadhyaya Mysore Satish, 40, an accounts worker, won Dh1 million.
• Rithesh Lobo, 49, a document controller, was another Dh1 million prize recipient.
• Asharaf Abdulla won a Land Rover Defender in the Dream Car category.

Driver Claims Dh25 Million Grand Prize

A significant windfall has landed in the hands of an Indian expatriate in Dubai, who has clinched the Dh25 million grand prize in the latest Big Ticket Abu Dhabi draw. Abdul Rasheed Allipra Valappil Abdu, a 48-year-old driver originally from Kerala, secured the life-changing sum with ticket number 012318, purchased on April 19. This marks a monumental moment for Abdu, who has been a resident of Dubai for 17 years while his family remains in India. Abdu, a regular participant in the Big Ticket draw for the past six years, described the moment of discovery as a complete surprise, occurring while he was spending time with friends. He expressed immense happiness and stated that the win was a special moment shared with his companions. His immediate plans involve consulting with his family and friends before making any decisions about the prize money. While the grand prize winner celebrates, the same draw also elevated five other Indian expatriates to millionaire status, each taking home Dh1 million. This collective success underscores the enduring appeal of the Big Ticket raffle among the expatriate community in the UAE and beyond.

Five Others Become Instant Millionaires

Among the five individuals who secured Dh1 million each is Chaithanya Kumari, a 44-year-old software engineer from Tamil Nadu. Kumari, who has resided in the UAE for 14 years, purchased her winning ticket as her sixth entry into the draw, having bought only five tickets previously. She was in India at the time of the announcement and missed the winning call, only learning of her fortune when a friend shared a newspaper clipping. Murali Vazhayli, a 50-year-old supervisor hailing from Kerala and residing in Oman, also joined the ranks of the newly minted millionaires. Vazhayli has been participating in Big Ticket draws for eight years, inspired by a colleague's previous grand prize win. His winning ticket was part of a group of 20 people, with his wife also participating separately with her colleagues. He shared that the prize signifies a great deal for him, his family, and the group, with plans to split the winnings, support families, and save a portion. Rajath Upadhyaya Mysore Satish, a 40-year-old accounts professional living in Dubai for seven years, and Rithesh Lobo, a 49-year-old document controller who has lived in Dubai since 2002, were the other two Dh1 million winners. Satish participates monthly with five colleagues, while Lobo has been a participant for over a decade, using astrology apps to guide his ticket number selections.

Dream Car Winner Also Celebrates

In addition to the cash prizes, the Big Ticket draw also awarded a Land Rover Defender in its Dream Car category. The fortunate recipient was Asharaf Abdulla, a 41-year-old driver based in Abu Dhabi, also originally from Kerala. Abdulla has been living in the UAE for 16 years and has been a participant in the draw for nearly nine years. Abdulla, who was encouraged to buy a ticket by a friend, expressed his happiness and surprise at the win. He has been part of a group of 40 participants for the past three years, alongside involvement in two other groups. He indicated that the prize would be shared among the group members. These multiple wins highlight the diverse range of prizes offered by Big Ticket, from substantial cash jackpots to luxury vehicles, consistently generating excitement and fulfilling dreams for participants.

A History of Big Wins and Future Prospects

Big Ticket has a well-established history of creating millionaires among expatriates in the UAE. The raffle, which operates with various prize tiers, continues to attract a large number of participants eager for a chance to change their lives. Chaithanya Kumari, despite her substantial win, plans to consult her parents before deciding on the use of her prize money. She also expressed an interest in participating in Big Ticket again, noting that "luck has to favour you a lot to win and stand a chance among so many tickets." This sentiment reflects the high stakes and the sheer volume of tickets sold in each draw. Looking ahead, Big Ticket is promoting its upcoming May draw with a grand prize of Dh20 million. The next live draw is scheduled for June 3, promising another opportunity for a lucky participant to become a millionaire and maintain the high level of anticipation among ticket buyers across the region.

The bottom line

• Abdul Rasheed Allipra Valappil Abdu won the Dh25 million grand prize in the latest Big Ticket Abu Dhabi draw.
• Five other Indian expatriates each won Dh1 million in the same raffle draw.
• Winners include a single mother, a supervisor participating in groups, an accounts worker, and a document controller.
• Asharaf Abdulla secured a Land Rover Defender in the Dream Car category.
• The next Big Ticket draw on June 3 features a grand prize of Dh20 million.