An Indian expat from Saudi Arabia has hit the jackpot, winning the Dh25 million grand prize in the Big Ticket Draw Series 281 held in Abu Dhabi today.
Rajan PV, a 52-year-old quality control supervisor, scooped the prize with ticket number 282824, purchased on November 9.
The draw was hosted by Richard and Bouchra, with last draw’s grand prize winner, Saravanan Venkatachalam, present in the studio to pick the winning ticket. Notably, most winners today were those who had bought their tickets earlier in the month.
“Oh! My God. Thank you, thank you very much. I am also very happy,” he said, adding that he hadn’t been watching the show live as he was outside at the time.
A Keralite who has spent the last 30 years living in Saudi Arabia with his family, Rajan has been a loyal Big Ticket customer for 15 years. What began as a casual recommendation from friends gradually became a long-standing tradition – both individually and as part of a close-knit group of 16 companions.
“I first heard about Big Ticket through my friends 15 years ago. I used to watch the live draws regularly and follow the stories of the winners in the news, and that inspired me to try my luck.”
To help those in need
Learning about this unexpected windfall left him thrilled.
“This winning ticket was purchased with my group. This is truly a dream come true for every one of us.”
Rajan revealed that he would be sharing the winnings with his colleagues.
“My plan is to divide the prize equally among my friends. With my share, I hope to give back by supporting a charity and helping those in need, and I will use a small portion to do something special for my family.”
Despite the jackpot, Rajan plans to continue buying Big Ticket.
“I will definitely continue purchasing from Big Ticket. My message to others is to never lose hope, if it’s not your turn today, it could very well be tomorrow. Keep trying your luck; you never know when your moment will arrive,” Rajan added.
Looking ahead, Big Ticket is kicking off 2026 with a Dh30 million draw, with the winner set to be announced on January 3. The promotion will feature five consolation prizes of Dh50,000 each, while weekly e-draws this month will reward five lucky winners with Dh100,000.
Big Ticket’s Dream Car Series also continues, with a BMW 430i up for grabs on January 3, followed by a BMW X5 on February 3. Tickets are available online or at counters in Zayed International Airport and Al Ain Airport.
Story by Gulf News
