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UAE: Worker, driver among 5 to win Dh150,000 each in Big Ticket draw
The next draw will be held on June 3 with a massive Dh20 million grand prize
- PUBLISHED: Thu 8 May 2025, 6:23 PM
A 44-year-old municipality worker from Bangladesh and a long-time resident of Sharjah for the past 18 years, is among the five bonus winners to win Dh150,000 each in the latest Big Ticket draw.
The Series 274 Big Ticket draw was held with winners from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh winning the cash prize.
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Bangladesh's Shohag Nurul Islam has been purchasing Big Ticket entries every month for the last five years with a group of 10 close friends. It was a free ticket he received that led to this win.
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“When I received the winning call, I was overwhelmed with joy — it was truly a special moment,” Islam said.
“My first priority is to divide the prize equally among my group members, as we’ve been in this journey together. With the remaining amount, I plan to continue trying my luck and purchase more tickets. I’ll definitely keep participating in Big Ticket draws and encourage others to do the same —you never know when your turn might come.”
Indian expat Kamalasanan Omana Riji, a 52-year-old driver from Kerala, who was among the bonus winners. Riji, who has been living in Sharjah for the past 18 years, has been purchasing Big Ticket entries every month since the early days of the draw, always as part of a group of 10 close friends.
“I was on my way to work and missed the winning call,” Riji said.
“But then my friend called me, and when I checked my email — I couldn’t believe it. He was right — I had won! It’s my first time winning, and the feeling was truly wonderful. Our plan is to divide the prize among our group and, of course, continue buying more tickets together.”
Sivanandan Ramabhadran, a 68-year-old business owner from Kerala and who has been residing in Abu Dhabi with his family since 1986, was another winner. He first came across Big Ticket nearly 20 years ago while travelling with his family through Abu Dhabi Airport — a moment that marked the beginning of a long journey of hope and perseverance. It was a free ticket he received that led to this win.
“Usually, I don’t check the results online after buying my ticket,” he admitted. “But this time, something compelled me to take a look—and to my surprise, I saw my name among the winners. It’s my first time winning, and I can’t express how happy I feel. After two decades of trying, my patience has finally paid off.”
With plans to invest his winnings wisely, he remains committed to purchasing Big Ticket entries and shared a message of encouragement: “Never give up, no matter how long it takes — your time will come.”
Pakistani expat Imran Aftab, a 46-year-old warehouse manager, who has been living in Dubai for the past 16 years, was another winner. He first learned about Big Ticket through his company and began purchasing entries with a group of 10 colleagues six years ago. Over time, his enthusiasm grew — he joined two to three additional groups and, in the last six months, began buying individual tickets as well. It was a free ticket he received that led to his recent win.
“I didn’t receive the winning call, but I got a text message,” he recalled. “At first, I wasn’t sure what to make of it, so I checked online—and it was true! I’m incredibly happy, especially because this is my first time winning, and it was an individual ticket that brought me this prize.”
With plans to invest his winnings in a home, he remains committed to trying his luck again. “I’ll definitely continue participating in Big Ticket draws,” he said. “In fact, many of my colleagues now want to join me for the next one. My advice to everyone is simple — keep going, one day your luck will shine.”
Prasantha Thottethody Marappa, a 48-year-old mechanical fitter from Kerala and whon has been residing in Bahrain for the past 15 years was the fifth winner. For the last five years, he has been consistently purchasing Big Ticket entries each month as part of a group of 10 close friends. It was a free ticket he received that led to this win.
“I am extremely happy and truly excited — this is a moment I will always treasure,” he said. “Our plan is to divide the winning cash prize among our group, as we’ve been in this together. And yes, we’re absolutely going to continue buying more tickets. This win has only strengthened our motivation and brought us one step closer to our ultimate goal: winning the grand prize.”
The next draw will be held on June 3 with a massive Dh20 million grand prize. Alongside the Dh20 million grand prize, five bonus winners will each take home Dh150,000 during the same night.