Sajesh Njattuketty, second from right, and Praveen Antony, second from left, will share Dh25 million prize money with 18 other colleagues.
Sajesh Njattuketty, second from right, and Praveen Antony, second from left, will share Dh25 million prize money with 18 other colleagues.
Sajesh Njattuketty, second from right, and Praveen Antony, second from left, will share Dh25 million prize money with 18 other colleagues.
Sajesh Njattuketty, second from right, and Praveen Antony, second from left, will share Dh25 million prize money with 18 other colleagues.

UAE

Restaurant worker and friends win Dh25 million in Abu Dhabi's Big Ticket draw

Winner bought the Dh500 ticket with 20 colleagues and each will take home nearly Dh1.2 million

Salam Al Amir
Salam Al Amir

November 04, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

An Indian man and his 20 colleagues scooped Dh25 million ($6.8m) in Abu Dhabi's Big Ticket draw but say they are clueless about what to do with the money because the reality is still sinking in.

Each of them will take home nearly Dh1.2m.

Sajesh Njattuketty, 47, works as a purchasing manager at Ikkayees restaurant in Dubai’s Karama area.

He has been living in the emirate for 24 years and won the grand prize on Thursday.

“Money can take you many places but right now I'm not sure what I will do with it," he told The National.

Mr Njattuketty said he and his fellow workers ― all from Kerala in India ― have been buying three tickets every month for the past two years.

“This month we bought four tickets, but we didn’t expect to win,” said the father of three.

He and his colleagues work at the restaurant’s two branches.

His fellow worker Praveen Antony, 35, said it still feels like a dream.

“We are in shock, we still haven't calculated how much each one of us gets,” he said.

Read more

Shopkeeper wins Dh500,000 in Abu Dhabi's Big Ticket draw

He said Mr Njattuketty told him about their win and he immediately called his wife in India, but she did not believe him.

“She thought it was a joke and only believed me after I sent her the message from Abu Dhabi's Big Ticket,” the father of two said.

He said all of them will sit together and discuss what they can do with their money.

“We can't force one another on what to do with the cash but as friends, we want to discuss so we can make the right decision," he said.

The next draw date is December 3, with Dh30 million, a Range Rover Series 7 and Maserati Series 6, up for grabs.

Each ticket costs Dh500.

Abu Dhabi Big Ticket: winners tell how jackpot changed their lives

UAE residents who struck lucky with Abu Dhabi's Big Ticket draw attended a gala dinner. Organisers of the draw celebrated the winners' good luck at the Alexandra Dhow Cruise in Dubai Marina. All photos by Leslie Pableo / The National
UAE residents who struck lucky with Abu Dhabi's Big Ticket draw attended a gala dinner. Organisers of the draw celebrated the winners' good luck at the Alexandra Dhow Cruise in Dubai Marina. All photos by Leslie Pableo / The National
Richard Isaac and Bouchra Yamani, the two presenters who pick out the raffle tickets and call the winners, interacted with the winners. Some of attendees had won jackpots of between Dh1 million to Dh15 million, while others won Dh90,000
Richard Isaac and Bouchra Yamani, the two presenters who pick out the raffle tickets and call the winners, interacted with the winners. Some of attendees had won jackpots of between Dh1 million to Dh15 million, while others won Dh90,000
'The National' spoke to winners about how they have spent their grand prize. Shivamurthy Gali Krishnappa won Dh12 million last month. He said he wants to save for his children's future. For now, he is still working as a mechanical engineer for a stainless steel production company
'The National' spoke to winners about how they have spent their grand prize. Shivamurthy Gali Krishnappa won Dh12 million last month. He said he wants to save for his children's future. For now, he is still working as a mechanical engineer for a stainless steel production company
Shahed Ahmed Moulvifaiz, a Bangladeshi car garage owner in Al Ain, won Dh10 million less than a week ago. He wants to bring his family to the UAE, expand his business and spend on his youngest son's education
Shahed Ahmed Moulvifaiz, a Bangladeshi car garage owner in Al Ain, won Dh10 million less than a week ago. He wants to bring his family to the UAE, expand his business and spend on his youngest son's education
Jayaprakash Mariyan Philip had won the Dh1 million prize with nine other people. The funds were split equally, leaving him with Dh100,000. He said he has paid off part of his bank loans
Jayaprakash Mariyan Philip had won the Dh1 million prize with nine other people. The funds were split equally, leaving him with Dh100,000. He said he has paid off part of his bank loans
Zaheenn Kausar was visiting her husband in Abu Dhabi from Pakistan, when he bought a ticket under her name. She proved lucky for her family after winning Dh90,000. She wants to pay for her daughter's university tuition and buy a car for herself
Zaheenn Kausar was visiting her husband in Abu Dhabi from Pakistan, when he bought a ticket under her name. She proved lucky for her family after winning Dh90,000. She wants to pay for her daughter's university tuition and buy a car for herself
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 5,000 people would gather during a live event in Abu Dhabi to watch the draw take place. Since 2020, the draw streams live on social media channels, bringing in even larger crowds
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 5,000 people would gather during a live event in Abu Dhabi to watch the draw take place. Since 2020, the draw streams live on social media channels, bringing in even larger crowds
Many people buy multiple tickets together and then split the prize equally. There are also those who win after buying a ticket alone, allowing them to keep the entire jackpot
Many people buy multiple tickets together and then split the prize equally. There are also those who win after buying a ticket alone, allowing them to keep the entire jackpot
The Abu Dhabi Big Draw has been changing lives since 1992
The Abu Dhabi Big Draw has been changing lives since 1992
The ticket for the grand prize costs Dh500
The ticket for the grand prize costs Dh500
START-UPS%20IN%20BATCH%204%20OF%20SANABIL%20500'S%20ACCELERATOR%20PROGRAMME
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On Women's Day
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RESULTS

Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ) by decision.

Women’s bantamweight
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) beat Cornelia Holm (SWE) by unanimous decision.

Welterweight
Omar Hussein (PAL) beat Vitalii Stoian (UKR) by unanimous decision.

Welterweight
Josh Togo (LEB) beat Ali Dyusenov (UZB) by unanimous decision.

Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) beat Delfin Nawen (PHI) TKO round-3.

Catchweight 80kg​​​​​​​
Seb Eubank (GBR) beat Emad Hanbali (SYR) KO round 1.

Lightweight
Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Ramadan Noaman (EGY) TKO round 2.

Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) beat Reydon Romero (PHI) submission 1.

Welterweight
Juho Valamaa (FIN) beat Ahmed Labban (LEB) by unanimous decision.

Featherweight
Elias Boudegzdame (ALG) beat Austin Arnett (USA) by unanimous decision.

Super heavyweight
Maciej Sosnowski (POL) beat Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) by submission round 1.

Superpower%20
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Specs

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Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

A Long Way Home by Peter Carey
Faber & Faber

Updated: November 04, 2022, 3:24 PM`
UAEAbu Dhabi