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Fri, Jan 23, 2026 | Shaban 5, 1447 | Fajr 05:44 | DXB 
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Emirati, Indian winners take home Dh500,000 in weekly Big Ticket draw
While some have decided what they are going to do with the money, others are taking their time to figure out how to best enjoy their win
Five lucky winners — one from the UAE and four from India — each took home Dh100,000 in the second Big Ticket weekly e-draw of the month. Whether they already have plans of what to do with their prize or are unsure and need time to think about it, one thing is for sure — the winners are thrilled and grateful, and feel optimistic about the future.
Here are the five lucky participants and their reactions to the good news.
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1. Ali Alkaabi from Abu Dhabi
“I am very happy, thank you,” said the Abu Dhabi native, showing his excitement during the live call from Big Ticket. When asked about his plans, he admitted he hadn’t any yet, saying he wanted to wait until he won to decide what to do with the money.
2. Ritesh Dhanak from Gujarat, India
Ritesh Dhanak is a 52-year-old computer teacher, originally from Gujarat in India. He has been living in Dubai with his family for 30 years — and has been buying Big Ticket tickets for 15 of them. For this draw, he bought a ticket with two of his friends, as he usually does. He initially hadn't planned on buying tickets but was convinced after hearing about the 'buy 2 get 3 free' offer from Big Ticket.
“At first, I thought the winning call was a scam,” he said. “But once I realized it was real, I felt like my prayers had been answered.”
Ritesh plans to use his portion of the winnings for a family holiday and his daughter’s education.
3. Ajay Kumar from Kerala, India
The finance analyst, who is from Kerala in India, has lived in Dubai for 17 years. He first heard about Big Ticket through friends and has been purchasing tickets with them every month since 2017.
Richard from Big Ticket's call telling him he had won came while he was driving. “I recognized Richard’s voice instantly,” he said. “I thought it was a prank until he confirmed my number. That’s when I knew it was real, and I was so excited.”
The ticket was bought with a group of ten friends, and the prize will be shared equally. “No plans yet, each of us will receive Dh10,000,” he shared. He plans to continue participating and is hopeful for future draws. “I’m waiting for January 3 — fingers crossed we win again,” he said.
4. Shakil Ahmad Nazrul Haque from Bihar, India
The 38-year-old civil engineer from Bihar, India, has been living in Fujairah for six years while supporting his family back home. He first learned about Big Ticket through TikTok and has been purchasing tickets every month for the last eight months.
“I’ve been trying for months, and finally my luck came,” he said.
His plan is to send the prize money to his family in India and begin building a house there.
5. Sreejith Sreedharan from India
Sreejith, and Indian expat in Bahrain, was thrilled to learn of his win. While he hasn’t yet shared any details about how he plans to use it, he said he’s looking forward to taking some time to decide the best way to enjoy his prize.
More draws
There are three more weekly e-draws left in December, taking the total prize pool to Dh1,500,000. Each week, five lucky winners will walk away with Dh100,000.
The biggest cash prize of the year — a whopping Dh30 million — is up for grabs during the January 3 live draw. During the same draw, five winners will get Dh50,000 each as consolation prizes as well.
Those who purchase two or more cash tickets in one transaction between December 1 and December 24 will automatically be entered into The Big Win Contest. Four participants will be selected to join the live draw on January 3, each guaranteed to win between Dh50,000 and Dh150,000. The names will be revealed on January 1 on the Big Ticket website.
Also up for grabs during the January 3 draw is a BMW 430i. A BMW X5 will be given away as a prize the next month, on February 3.
Tickets are available online at www.bigticket.ae or at counters located in Zayed International Airport and Al Ain Airport.
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