An Indian expat in Abu Dhabi won Dh25 million, unaware at first due to missed calls/Representative Image
Saravanan Venkatachalam was behind the wheel, oblivious to the calls buzzing on his phone, when fortune found him. An Indian engineer in Abu Dhabi, he had just won Dh25 million in the Big Ticket jackpot for November’s draw. The victory, realised only after friends and family called to break the news, captures both the suspense and spectacle of the UAE’s most celebrated raffle.
The Engineer who missed the call
Saravanan Venkatachalam, a 44-year-old engineer from Chennai living in Abu Dhabi, became the newest Big Ticket millionaire when his entry, number 463221, was drawn during the live event on 3 November. The ticket, purchased on 30 October, earned him the top prize of Dh25 million in Series 280 of the draw.When the hosts, Richard and Bouchra, announced his number, their calls went unanswered. His phone, set to Do Not Disturb during work hours, remained silent as they tried repeatedly to reach him. “Come on, Saravanan, please pick up the call,” the hosts urged on air, promising, “We will find you.”It was not until friends and relatives began calling that he realised what had happened. “I was completely blank,” he recalled later. “All I can say is that I’m deeply grateful and overjoyed.” He plans to consult his family before deciding how to use the money, setting aside a portion for his child’s education and approaching the rest with care.His path to fortune began five years ago, prompted by a colleague who once won the raffle himself. Since then, Venkatachalam has bought tickets both individually and in groups. “If you can’t buy one alone, join with friends,” he advises. It is a sentiment that echoes through the expatriate community, where syndicates often pool resources for a shared chance at luck.
The other winners
While Venkatachalam’s prize dominated headlines, four other participants also emerged with substantial winnings.
- Lazar Joseph, from Sharjah, claimed Dh110,000 in the Big Win category, a contest with a maximum prize of Dh150,000. His share will help fund his daughter’s education, while he divides the remainder among fourteen fellow ticket-holders.
- Thiyagarajan Periyaswami, a decade-long Abu Dhabi resident, secured Dh130,000 and intends to buy a new car after recently relocating his family back to India.
- Mohammed Elias, from Al Ain, took home Dh150,000, which he plans to share among friends.
- Ijas Yunus, another lucky entrant, will split his winnings ten ways and use his portion to buy gifts for his wife and child.
In the separate Dream Car Draw, a Bangladeshi expatriate from Al Ain with ticket number 008475 drove away in a new Nissan Patrol — a reminder that Big Ticket’s fortunes extend beyond cash prizes.
The season of prizes
Big Ticket’s organisers have built the raffle into a calendar of experiences, merging high-value rewards with the glamour of Abu Dhabi’s social season. This November, buyers stand to win more than money.Customers purchasing tickets between 1 and 21 November will automatically enter an E-draw selecting thirty winners for a Race and Luxury Yacht Experience. Each receives Dh10,000 in cash and a fully paid trip for two to attend the Yas Marina race weekend on 6 and 7 December, including a three-night stay in a five-star hotel, concert tickets, transport, and flights for non-UAE residents.During the two-day yacht event, participants can compete for further cash prizes, including a special Dh250,000 award presented live on both days. The names of the thirty winners will be published on 1 December, and each will automatically enter the 3 December live draw.Every customer buying tickets from 1 to 30 November qualifies for the upcoming grand draw, where one entrant will once again claim Dh25 million, alongside ten consolation prizes of Dh100,000 each.Complementing these offers, the ongoing Dream Car Series continues with a Maserati Grecale to be awarded on 3 December and a BMW 430i on 3 January. Shoppers can also take advantage of the month’s bundle promotion: buy two tickets and get two free across both the main raffle and car draw categories.
The culture of fortune
The Big Ticket draw, established in 1992 at Abu Dhabi International Airport, has evolved into one of the Gulf’s most recognisable fixtures, a ritual that mingles aspiration, community, and spectacle. Each new millionaire joins a widening circle of expatriates who see in the raffle a rare gateway to financial freedom.For Venkatachalam, the windfall is both a personal milestone and a reflection of that larger story, one of ordinary people drawn together by the faint but persistent promise of luck. His quiet satisfaction, measured against the exuberant world of televised draws and promotional fanfare, speaks to something enduring in the human impulse: to hope, to risk, and sometimes, to win. Go to Source
