Naheel Nizamudeen shared the Dh10 million Big Ticket grand prize with 39 colleagues, including Mr Shinoy (pictured), whose first name was not supplied. Photo: Abu Dhabi Big Ticket
Naheel Nizamudeen shared the Dh10 million Big Ticket grand prize with 39 colleagues, including Mr Shinoy (pictured), whose first name was not supplied. Photo: Abu Dhabi Big Ticket
Naheel Nizamudeen shared the Dh10 million Big Ticket grand prize with 39 colleagues, including Mr Shinoy (pictured), whose first name was not supplied. Photo: Abu Dhabi Big Ticket
Naheel Nizamudeen shared the Dh10 million Big Ticket grand prize with 39 colleagues, including Mr Shinoy (pictured), whose first name was not supplied. Photo: Abu Dhabi Big Ticket

Abu Dhabi Big Ticket: Indian Dh10m winner says windfall like 'rain in the desert'


Anam Rizvi
  • English
  • Arabic

An Indian man who scooped Dh10 million in Abu Dhabi's Big Ticket draw along with dozens of fellow workers has been told of their good fortune after organisers launched a search to find him.

Naheel Nizamudeen won the grand prize in the monthly raffle on Sunday night but initial efforts to contact him proved unsuccessful.

He was tracked down on Monday morning thanks to the help of a colleague.

Mr Nizamudeen is one of 40 workers at a hypermarket in Qatar who teamed up to purchase the winning ticket.

He said their joint success would make a huge difference to their lives.

"It's like rain in the desert. Most of the us have financial issues and liabilities but these few seconds changed our lives,' he said.

"For us its a treasure and will help us take care of our liabilities."

A Big Ticket representative spoke to the group of winners - who will each pick up Dh250,000.

"We cannot explain this feeling of winning Big Ticket," the group said.

"We purchased the winning ticket with 40 of our colleagues. This money is changing the lives of many people at the same time.”

”Many people have called and asked us how we picked the winning number but we told them there is no secret, we have been purchasing Big Tickets for a long time and our luck has finally changed."

They had advice for others: “Keep trying with Big Ticket, your luck can change anytime too”

Mohamed Hasim Parappara, also from India, won a Range Rover in the same draw while compatriot Angelo Fernandes secured a Dh1 million prize.

Jaeeun Lee from South Korea is Dh100,000 richer following the latest draw.

Big Ticket has been in operation since 1992 – with an initial top prize of Dh1 million – and has grown in popularity over the years.

The draw has helped change the lives of many of its big winners since its launch.

In July, an Indian who worked as a taxi driver in Dubai for nearly a decade secured the Dh20 million jackpot.

Renjith Somarajan was announced as the new ‘Dh20 Mighty Millionaire’ during a live stream by the draw’s organisers.

The 38-year-old, who moved to Dubai 13 years ago, said he would share his winnings equally with nine friends who purchased the Dh500 ticket with him.

In January, another Indian national had won the mega Dh20 million top prize.

Abdussalam NV, who lives in Oman, was informed about his winnings a day after the draw, as he could not be reached at the time.

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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now

Profile Idealz

Company: Idealz

Founded: January 2018

Based: Dubai

Sector: E-commerce

Size: (employees): 22

Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)

match info

Maratha Arabians 138-2

C Lynn 91*, A Lyth 20, B Laughlin 1-15

Team Abu Dhabi 114-3

L Wright 40*, L Malinga 0-13, M McClenaghan 1-17

Maratha Arabians won by 24 runs

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

The%20specs
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The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Tuesday results:

  • Singapore bt Malaysia by 29 runs
  • UAE bt Oman by 13 runs
  • Hong Kong bt Nepal by 3 wickets

Final:
Thursday, UAE v Hong Kong

The rules on fostering in the UAE

A foster couple or family must:

  • be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
  • not be younger than 25 years old
  • not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
  • be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
  • have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
  • undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
  • A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
While you're here
Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?

The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.

A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.

Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.

The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.

When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.

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A Bad Moms Christmas
Dir: John Lucas and Scott Moore
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines
Two stars

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The biog

Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages

Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”  

Favourite food: “I'm a vegetarian, so I can't get enough of salad.”

Favourite film:  “I love watching documentaries, and am fascinated by nature, animals, human anatomy. I love watching to learn!”

Best spot in the UAE: “I fell in love with Fujairah and anywhere outside the big cities, where I can get some peace and get a break from the busy lifestyle”

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

Updated: October 05, 2021, 11:01 AM`