‘Our lives will change’: Car garage owner overjoyed at Dh10 million lottery win

A Bangladeshi car garage owner who moved to the UAE nearly 40 years ago told of his joy after scooping Dh10 million ($2.7m) in the Abu Dhabi Big Ticket draw.

Shahed Ahmed Moulvifaiz, 55, has bought lottery tickets for more than two decades, but never thought he would win the grand prize.

He lives in Al Ain with his son, 25, where they run their family business. His other children, aged 15 to 26, live with his wife in Bangladesh.

"Our lives are going to change," Mr Moulvifaiz told The National moments after being declared the winner during a live draw on Saturday night.

Shahed Ahmed Moulvifaiz won Dh10 million in the Abu Dhabi Big Ticket draw. Courtesy: Mr Moulvifaiz

“Our car garage was able to put a roof over our heads, feed us and pay for my children’s education, but Dh10 million will change our lives now and give an even more comfortable living.”

Mr Moulvifaiz said he plans on expanding his business, buying a house in his home country and spending on his youngest son’s education.

He said that he kept purchasing tickets in the hope that he would strike it lucky.

“I thought maybe one day I would win Dh1 million or even half a million, but now I’m a multimillionaire,” said Mr Moulvifaiz, who was attending a customer at his garage when he received the call from the organisers.

Raman Nambiar Mohan, an Indian expat in Bahrain, was the Dh5 million winner in last night’s draw.

The Abu Dhabi Big Ticket has been operating since 1992 and was first established at the Abu Dhabi International Airport.

In January, an Indian expat in Oman won Dh20 million.

UAE residents have been getting richer through other raffle draws in the country, too.

Earlier this year, a Filipina won Dh1m after wiring her father Dh186 through Al Ansari Exchange.

Last week, an Indian worker who earns Dh3,000 per month, won Dh2 million in the Mahzooz weekly draw.

What would you buy if you hit the jackpot?

So how would you spend Dh100 million? To truly live life in the fast lane you need a luxury car in the garage. The limited edition Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ is for the most passionate of petrolheads, retailing at more than Dh14 million

Once you have your flashy new set of wheels, it makes sense to get a personalised number plate. The V12 plate sold for a tidy Dh7.2 million at a previous RTA auction in Dubai. Satish Kumar / The National

You are already feeling over the moon so why not fly to it? Commercial flights might be commonplace long in the future, but will be the preserve of the rich and famous in the short term at least as space entrepreneurs bid to corner the market

Travel in style on board Etihad's The Residence. VIP flights come with a host of perks, including a comfy bed.

When money is no object, why not splash out on a stay at a submarine hotel? This luxurious underwater establishment in St Lucia will set you back Dh1 million a night

A boost to the bank balance affords one the opportunity to travel the world. How about a trip to Paris once you need a break from lazing around the mansion?

For those looking to lay down roots in Dubai, there are plenty of spacious villas in Emirates Hills - dubbed the Beverly Hills of the UAE. One of the priciest properties in the area on the market is on sale for Dh14.5 million

Any self-respecting millionaire has to have a yacht. While a super yacht might be out of the reach of even someone with Dh20 million, you can still pick up a top-of-the-line vessel and still have some change. Pawan Singh / The National

Live the high life with a plush apartment in the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa. Lavish pads are available for under Dh5 million. Satish Kumar / The National

England v South Africa schedule

First Test: Starts Thursday, Lord's, 2pm (UAE)
Second Test: July 14-18, Trent Bridge, Nottingham, 2pm
Third Test: The Oval, London, July 27-31, 2pm
Fourth Test: Old Trafford, Manchester, August 4-8

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

The 12

England

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur

Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus

Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid

The language of diplomacy in 1853

Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity Agreed Upon by the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast on Behalf of Themselves, Their Heirs and Successors Under the Mediation of the Resident of the Persian Gulf, 1853
(This treaty gave the region the name “Trucial States”.)

We, whose seals are hereunto affixed, Sheikh Sultan bin Suggar, Chief of Rassool-Kheimah, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboo Dhebbee, Sheikh Saeed bin Buyte, Chief of Debay, Sheikh Hamid bin Rashed, Chief of Ejman, Sheikh Abdoola bin Rashed, Chief of Umm-ool-Keiweyn, having experienced for a series of years the benefits and advantages resulting from a maritime truce contracted amongst ourselves under the mediation of the Resident in the Persian Gulf and renewed from time to time up to the present period, and being fully impressed, therefore, with a sense of evil consequence formerly arising, from the prosecution of our feuds at sea, whereby our subjects and dependants were prevented from carrying on the pearl fishery in security, and were exposed to interruption and molestation when passing on their lawful occasions, accordingly, we, as aforesaid have determined, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, to conclude together a lasting and inviolable peace from this time forth in perpetuity.

Taken from Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925-1939: the Imperial Oasis, by Clive Leatherdale

The national orchestra

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While you're here

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COMPANY PROFILE

Name: HyperSpace

Started: 2020

Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Entertainment

Number of staff: 210

Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners

The specs: 2019 BMW X4

Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800

Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

2024%20Dubai%20Marathon%20Results

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UAE jiu-jitsu squad

Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)

Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)