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Wed, Jan 21, 2026 | Shaban 2, 1447 | Fajr 05:45 | DXB 
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‘Prayed for a blessed year’: UAE expat wins Dh30 million three days into 2026
On January 3, the Filipino expat won Dh30 million in the Big Ticket draw. That moment changed her life — even though she did not see it immediately
Anna Gayongan had a beautiful New Year with her family in Dubai. Like many others, she welcomed the year with hope. She prayed quietly that 2026 would be a blessed year for her loved ones.
Just three days later, her prayer was answered.
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On January 3, the Filipino expat won Dh30 million in the Big Ticket draw. That moment changed her life — even though she did not see it immediately.
During the live draw, her phone rang several times and she did not answer. “I was playing with my child. I didn’t think much about the calls.”
Later, she received a message asking if she was the winner. Her first thought was disbelief.
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“I was trying to stay calm. I wasn’t sure if it was real or a scam,” she said.
Anna then checked her call logs. There were nine missed calls from three different numbers. “That’s when I thought maybe this is really Big Ticket,” she said.
She called back. Soon after, the team confirmed the news. “It was overwhelming. My mind went blank,” she said.
Anna has lived in the UAE for almost 15 years. She works as a senior accountant in a private firm. Even after the win, her routine has not changed. “We are in a critical reporting period at work. I didn’t want to neglect my responsibilities.”
She is married and lives in Dubai with her husband and their child. For now, there are no big celebrations planned. She is the breadwinner of her family and says that her family is her priority.
She hopes to invite her siblings from the Philippines to visit the UAE one day and see the life she has built here.
As for the future, she said that her plans will come later. “We are thinking about buying property in the UAE. But nothing is final yet.”
For now, she calls it a blessed beginning to the year. “If it is meant for you,” she said, “it will come to you.”
SM Ayaz Zakir
SM Ayaz Zakir is a Senior Correspondent with a flair for extraordinary stories. His playground? Every corner of the UAE. He often ventures into remote corners of the country to capture compelling news and human interest stories.
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