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Big Ticket Abu Dhabi: Dh10 million winner thought it was a prank call
Dubai - The first runner-up walked away with a prize of Dh1 million.
An Indian expat based in Sharjah won Dh10 million in the Big Ticket Abu Dhabi raffle draw on Thursday. And for a change, this jackpot will not be shared as the winner bought the ticket all by himself.
Gurpreet Singh purchased the lucky ticket number 067757 on August 12. The 35-year-old from the state of Punjab has been in the UAE for the past 32 years and hopes to finally settle down in his 'second home'.
"I landed here with my parents when I was three years old. My father was working here. He has retired now and returned to Punjab. I work in Dubai and live in Sharjah with my wife and two kids. We live in a one-bedroom flat. I always wanted to offer my family a better lifestyle. I wanted to settle down in life. I always thought if I had money I would buy a house here. I will get back my aging parents here. They are staying alone in Punjab. Every day while returning home from work, I always used to think when lady luck would smile on me. Now I can afford that dream."
Singh will explore the possibilities of availing the retirement visa programme for his father.
Your ultimate guide to participating in the Big Ticket Abu Dhabi
I thought it was a prank call
Singh has been participating in the Big Ticket raffle for more than two years but hardly follows the draw live on social media platforms. He wasn't aware about the change in timing of the raffle because of the pandemic. The IT manager thought it was a prank call when the organisers gave him a call.
"I was busy at work. I was surprised. You can imagine if someone calls in the afternoon and says: "You have won Dh10 million". And I don't follow the draw live but check the media reports on the winner. But I had a thought today in the morning that it's September 3 and it's the draw date."
Singh urges everyone to keep trying their luck at the lucky draw.
"Sometimes I used to pool money with my friends or buy on my own. But this ticket was bought by me alone. People should keep trying and you'll get lucky. When you dream, dream big," he said and noted the celebratory party will be muted keeping in mind the risk of a second wave of the pandemic.
"Under the present situation I will keep the celebrations low," Singh added.
And for the first time in Big Ticket history, there were two millionaires.
Bulgarian expat Tanya Vitanova, who is based in Dubai, won the first-ever Dh1 million runner-up prize. Tanya won with her ticket number 276402 bought on August 28.
The promotion of next month's Dh12 million draw will run till September 30 and the draw date is October 3. Apart from the jackpot, there are six additional cash prizes and another promotion to win luxury cars.
One raffle ticket costs Dh500, but for Dh1,000 one can three tickets in a buy-two-get-one-free offer.
Tickets can be bought from the official website www.bigticket.ae or through Big Ticket stores at the Abu Dhabi International Airport arrivals hall counter and Al Ain International Airport.
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