“My Life in the UAE Has Been Amazing,” Says Former Dental Assistant as She Reveals Her Plans.
Dubai: A Filipina expat has become the UAE Lottery’s first female millionaire after winning the Dh5 million second prize in the Lucky Day Draw. She has now revealed how she found out she had won.
Zenn Ariane Garceles, 38, has called Dubai home for the past 13 years. During her time in the city, she met her husband and started a family, making the UAE an important part of her life story.
“My life in the UAE has been amazing. I met my husband here and built my family here,” she said.
Choosing the Life-Changing Ticket
A former dental assistant, Zenn has been playing The UAE Lottery since its early days. She regularly participated in the Lucky Day Draw and occasionally tried her luck with other games, including Scratch Cards.
Her winning ticket was an Easy Pick, with the numbers randomly generated rather than personally chosen by her.
How She Found Out
Zenn discovered her life-changing win after seeing an Instagram post announcing that someone had won the Dh5 million prize.
Curious to find out who had won, she logged into her account and checked the winning numbers. To her surprise, she was greeted by a message congratulating her on winning the Dh5 million Second Prize herself. She described the moment as “unforgettable.”
Zenn’s win adds to the growing number of success stories from The UAE Lottery. Its Lucky Day Draws are held every Wednesday and Saturday, offering a Dh30 million Grand Prize, a Dh5 million Second Prize and several other prize tiers.
Celebrating with Family
Zenn’s first reaction after discovering her win was to share the life-changing news with her loved ones. She called her father in the Philippines and now hopes to bring him to the UAE for a family visit.
As for the prize money, Zenn plans to invest in her children’s education, explore business opportunities and buy a car for her husband.
“I can’t really think of what I would buy for myself because I’m happy knowing that I can share it with my family,” she said. “Being with them and seeing their smiles makes me happy.”
Dreaming of a Home in Dubai
Looking ahead, Zenn says the UAE is still where she hopes to build her future. “I’ve always wanted a place for my family, and I’ve dreamed of having our own home here,” she said.
She plans to manage her winnings carefully while exploring new opportunities and making more time for her loved ones.
“We should all be responsible in every aspect of our lives, especially with money,” she said. “When you spend it, be wise. Do not go beyond your limit.”
The UAE Lottery said it remains committed to promoting responsible gaming and providing participants with a safe, transparent and regulated experience. The lottery added that all its games are fully regulated by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA).
