One lucky winner will walk away with the Dh20 million grand prize on October 3, while five others will share Dh1.95 million in consolation prizes in the same draw.
Four lucky participants from India, Iran, Pakistan and the Philippines have each won Dh25,000 in Big Ticket’s first weekly e-draw of September. The winners come from different backgrounds, including an Iranian expatriate based in Qatar and a Filipina pharmacist living in Abu Dhabi. Here are their stories.
Ahmed Zadeh
Iranian national Ahmed Zadeh, who currently lives in Qatar, was surprised to learn that his Big Ticket entry had secured him a Dh25,000 prize. He had purchased ticket number 029553 online just days before the month’s first weekly e-draw.
Pranav Malil Sol
Bengaluru resident Pranav Malil Sol was in disbelief after learning that his online purchase of ticket number 067408 had won him Dh25,000. Even after receiving a call from Big Ticket host Richard, Sol struggled to believe the good news. He was encouraged to watch the live draw on YouTube, after which he finally realised he had won and reacted with joy and gratitude.
Aida Villanueva Centeno
Aida Villanueva Centeno, a 61-year-old Filipina pharmacist, has called Abu Dhabi home for the past 19 years. She currently lives with one of her three children, while her other two children reside in the Philippines. A regular Big Ticket participant, Aida joins the draws with a group of 10 colleagues from the hospital where she works.
After several unsuccessful attempts, Aida and her colleagues decided to take a break from participating in Big Ticket. The group later chose to try their luck once again — a decision that eventually paid off with a Dh25,000 win.
Aida made the entry more meaningful by choosing a ticket number inspired by her and her daughter’s birthdays. She said she had a strong feeling that luck would be on her side this time, making the eventual win even more special.
Although Aida initially missed the call informing her of the win, she was thrilled when she later learned the news. After numerous attempts and a temporary break, finally winning together made the moment particularly memorable for the group.
The prize money will be divided among the participating colleagues. Aida plans to save part of her share and use some of the remaining amount to purchase more Big Ticket entries.
Zulqarnain Malik
Zulqarnain Malik, a 40-year-old Pakistani human resources professional, was born and raised in the UAE and currently lives there with his wife and two children. He first discovered Big Ticket by chance while travelling and decided to participate.
After trying a few times without success, Zulqarnain stopped buying tickets. He came across Big Ticket again online last year and decided to resume participating. His winning entry was only the sixth ticket he had purchased.
Unlike some participants who rely on meaningful or lucky numbers, Zulqarnain purchased his ticket individually and made a random selection, saying he does not particularly believe in lucky numbers.
The unexpected win left him thrilled. Zulqarnain described getting goosebumps when he heard the news and said the experience was especially exciting because he had never expected to win.
The win has come as a welcome boost for Zulqarnain and his family. He plans to use the prize money for his wife and children and hopes to make the most of the unexpected windfall.
His recent success has also encouraged him to continue participating. Zulqarnain has already purchased another ticket and is now hoping his run of luck could lead to an even bigger prize in a future draw.
Future Big Ticket Draws
The next major Big Ticket draw will take place on October 3, with one participant set to win the Dh20 million grand prize. Five other winners will share Dh1.95 million in consolation prizes. The payouts include Dh1 million for one winner, Dh500,000 for another, Dh250,000 for a third, and Dh100,000 each for two more winners.
The Big Spin promotion will also continue throughout September. Customers who purchase at least one Big Ticket during the month will have a chance to become one of three participants selected during the October 3 live draw. Those chosen will take part in the Big Spin game on November 3, where each participant could win up to Dh1 million.
Meanwhile, three weekly e-draws are still scheduled for September, with four winners in each draw receiving Dh25,000 apiece.
Car enthusiasts also have two upcoming Dream Car draws to watch. A Nissan Patrol will be awarded in the October 3 draw, followed by a Range Rover Velar in the November 3 draw.
