UAE Lottery Winner Reveals Identity and Plans for Golden Visa, World Tour and Heartwarming Reunion.
Dubai: An Indian expatriate living in Sharjah has shared the remarkable story of how he discovered he had won Dh5 million in The UAE Lottery, just five days before celebrating his 60th birthday.
On Monday, The UAE Lottery officially disclosed the winner’s full identity as Kishore Pandurang Rao, who claimed the second prize in the Lucky Day draw held on Saturday, October 3.
Kishore first moved to the UAE in 1993 and has spent more than three decades living and working in the country, which he now considers his second home.
Double Celebration: Dh5 Million Win and 60th Birthday
October turned into an unforgettable month for Kishore, who experienced two major milestones within days of each other.
On October 3, he won Dh5 million in The UAE Lottery. Just five days later, on October 8, he celebrated his 60th birthday.
Kishore secured the second prize in Lucky Day Draw No. 261003 after correctly matching all six numbers in the game’s “Days” category.
He narrowly missed the Dh30 million grand prize, as the additional “Months” number, 10, did not match the number on his ticket.
His winning ticket cost just Dh50 and was purchased through The UAE Lottery’s official platform using the Easy Pick option, which automatically generates numbers.
The winning combination was announced during the live Saturday evening draw.
His success marks another major second-prize win in the Lucky Day game since its nationwide introduction.
Gulf News was the first to report the winner’s first name, after The UAE Lottery initially identified him as Kishore R shortly after the draw.
Family Comes First After Life-Changing Lottery Win
Kishore admitted that his first reaction to the news was disbelief.
Although he had seen his name mentioned in reports about the lottery results, he initially found it difficult to accept that he was the winner.
“I saw my name in the news, but I couldn’t believe it was me. Then I checked my account and realized it was true!” he said earlier.
Even after confirming the result, Kishore chose not to share the news immediately.
He kept the extraordinary development to himself for some time before eventually telling his wife, who was delighted by the unexpected windfall.
The couple initially decided to keep the news private, sharing it with only a small circle of people while coming to terms with the win.
For Kishore, the biggest reward is the opportunity to spend more time with his family.
After years of living apart from his loved ones for extended periods, he hopes to reunite them in the UAE and enjoy more moments together.
When asked whom he most wanted to celebrate with, his answer was immediate: his wife.
“Especially my wife,” Kishore said. “Together, we share our ups and downs. Now this opportunity has come, so I have to share it with her, and with my children.”
The lottery prize has given him a chance to focus on family togetherness and plan a more comfortable future for those closest to him.
Golden Visa Dream and Plans to Travel the World
Beyond bringing his family together, Kishore hopes his Dh5 million prize will help him fulfil several long-standing personal ambitions.
One of his biggest aspirations is to obtain a UAE Golden Visa, allowing him to explore the possibility of longer-term residency in the country he has called home for more than 30 years.
“I always hoped that one day I would get a Golden Visa. I kept thinking that one day I’d get one. Now I have a chance to apply for a Golden Visa, and that’s something I’d really like,” he said.
Since arriving in the Emirates in 1993, Kishore has lived in several locations, including Dubai, Ajman, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
His decades-long connection with the UAE has made the possibility of securing long-term residency particularly meaningful.
Another dream he hopes to pursue is travelling around the world with his wife.
“My goal is that I have to travel around the world,” Kishore said.
“I have to see those places with my wife, because she is fond of travelling as well.”
With his newfound financial freedom, Kishore is considering several possibilities for his family’s future.
However, rather than rushing into major decisions, he intends to take his time, carefully assess his options and make the most of the opportunities created by his unexpected lottery win.
Despite the excitement surrounding his Dh5 million win, Kishore emphasised the importance of responsible participation in lottery games.
“Everyone should know their own limits,” he said, encouraging players to manage their spending carefully. “They should set a limit on how much they spend.”
The UAE Lottery reaffirmed its commitment to promoting responsible gaming while providing participants with a safe, transparent and regulated environment.
The operator also highlighted that all its games are regulated by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), which oversees commercial gaming activities in the UAE.
