A driver who has lived in Dubai for 13 years says his life has changed after scooping Dh77,777 in the Emirates Draw only weeks after buying his first ticket.
Mintu Barua from Bangladesh started participating in the draw only weeks before his win and won the money after buying a Dh50 ticket for the third time.
The 40-year-old, who works as a limousine driver for a Dubai taxi company, said he will never forget receiving a call from the draw’s organiser informing him of the win.
I was shocked when I got a phone call from Emirates Draw saying that I won, since I’ve participated just two or three times
Mintu Barua,
driver
“My colleague encouraged me to buy Dh50 worth of pencils after he won last month,” he said.
“I’m so happy that I did because now my life has changed completely. I was shocked when I got a phone call from Emirates Draw saying that I won, since I’ve participated just two or three times.”
While he is still figuring out what to do with his winnings, he said all he wants to do is celebrate and enjoy the moment.
“I’m going to keep participating and hopefully I’ll have the chance to win again in the future, maybe even the grand prize of Dh100 million," he said.
Fellow winner Sivy Abraham, 32, was among seven people who each pocketed Dh77,777 after the latest draw.
The Indian citizen, who works as an operations manager in the medical sector, said he plans to divide his winnings between his parents, charity, and into a savings pot.
“I’m still in happy shock that I won after participating just once,” he said.
“My family was very happy and excited when I told them that I had won, especially since we all support one another.
“I’m going to keep participating and I hope that I’ll win the grand prize one day, although I’m not sure what I’ll do if that happens.”
A third winner, Muhammad Mansoor, from Pakistan, said luck was finally on his side when he bagged the prize after nine months of entering the draw.
Living in Ajman, Mr Mansoor initially thought he had won Dh77 when he received his congratulatory email from Emirates Draw, only to discover that the amount was much higher after checking his dashboard.
“I plan to clear my debts, buy something special for my mother, and put the remaining amount in savings,” he said.
“I hope to go on Umrah later this year so the winnings will help me save towards it.”
Emirates Draw has distributed more thanDh27 million in prize money to more than 19,000 participants to date. The Dh100 million grand prize, the largest in the region, has still not been won.
Participants have another chance to try for the life-changing prize during the next draw round, which will be broadcast live on Sunday, June 12 at 9pm.
Abu Dhabi Big Ticket: winners tell how jackpot changed their lives – in pictures
MATCH INFO
Champions League last 16, first leg
Tottenham v RB Leipzig, Wednesday, midnight (UAE)
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fight card
1. Featherweight 66kg: Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)
2. Lightweight 70kg: Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)
3. Welterweight 77kg:Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)
4. Lightweight 70kg: Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)
5. Featherweight 66kg: Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)
6. Catchweight 85kg: Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)
7. Featherweight 66kg: Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)
8. Catchweight 73kg: Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Ahmed Abdelraouf of Egypt (EGY)
9. Featherweight 66kg: Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)
10. Catchweight 90kg: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
