Shaukat Aftab becomes latest millionaire after ticket number 245556 selected in Series 290 live draw.
A Pakistani national has won the Dh15 million ($4.08 million) grand prize in Abu Dhabi’s popular Big Ticket raffle, organisers announced following the Series 290 live draw held in the UAE capital.
Pakistani National Wins UAE Jackpot:
Shaukat Aftab was confirmed as the winner after ticket number 245556 was drawn. The winning ticket was selected by the previous month’s jackpot winner, Reynaldo Herboso from the Philippines, during the televised ceremony. Aftab was contacted by phone and reacted with a mix of shock and joy.
“Oh my God! Thank you very much. Love you. So grateful and very happy to know,” Aftab said when informed of the win. He initially doubted the news but verified the result by watching the live draw recording on YouTube, after which his excitement grew.
The Dh15 million prize is one of the largest regularly offered in the UAE’s well-known raffle system, which has operated for more than three decades and attracts large numbers of expatriate participants from South Asia and elsewhere. Big Ticket tickets are sold online and at counters in airports including Zayed International Airport and Al Ain Airport.
In the same Series 290 draw, an Indian expatriate living in Dubai, Ravindranathan Vinesh, won a brand-new Land Rover Defender in the associated Dream Car series with ticket number 035787. Additional cash prizes were also distributed among other participants.
Dh15m Win Sparks Expat Interest:
Big Ticket has become a fixture in the lives of many long-term residents in the UAE, particularly Pakistani, Indian, Filipino and other South Asian communities. Winners frequently describe the prizes as life-changing, with many directing funds towards supporting families back home, buying property, starting businesses or covering education and healthcare costs.
The monthly live draws are broadcast and widely followed on social media and YouTube, where previous winners often appear or are mentioned. Aftab joins a growing list of Pakistani nationals who have claimed major prizes in the scheme over the years.
Organisers have not released further personal details about Aftab’s background or immediate plans for the winnings. As with previous jackpots, the win is expected to generate significant interest among expatriate communities across the Emirates and in Pakistan.