After eight years of entering the Big Ticket draw without success, Shiju Muthathian Veettil, a 39-year-old Indian bartender from Kerala, finally saw his perseverance rewarded. Based in Dubai for the past 13 years, Shiju has been purchasing tickets regularly, often pooling money with a group of 11 colleagues to afford entries.In the latest weekly e-draw held in Abu Dhabi, part of Big Ticket’s September series, Shiju’s ticket number 062978 was selected in draw number 279, earning him a cash prize of Dirham 50,000 (approximately ₹12.07 lakh).Shiju currently works in the hospitality industry and has maintained a consistent routine of participating in the draw every month, despite never winning before. For him, this is not just a financial milestone but a personal one, made more meaningful by the fact that the prize will be shared among the group that supported him throughout the years.“I plan to share the prize money with my group, and we’ll continue buying tickets,” he said.
Others strike gold too in the same draw
Shiju wasn’t the only one celebrating. In the same weekly e-draw, three more winners were awarded Dirham 50,000 each, and their stories are just as remarkable.
- Connie Tabalujan, a 53-year-old travel agent in Abu Dhabi, won with a ticket her husband purchased. The couple plans to buy a new laptop and will share the winnings with colleagues. They also plan to keep playing.
- Prajin Malath, a 40-year-old automotive salesman from Bangalore, currently living in Qatar, started buying tickets just four months ago with a friend. Completely taken by surprise, he said he intends to invest his share in a venture back in India and encourage others to try their luck.
- Farhana Akter MD Harun, a 43-year-old restaurant owner from Bangladesh, residing in Al Ain, won with a ticket he purchased in his wife’s name. His plans are grounded and generous: invest in the restaurant, give back to the community, and keep playing.
Big Ticket September Finale: What’s next
The win comes just as Big Ticket’s September promotion enters its final week, building anticipation for the grand prize draw on October 3 in Abu Dhabi. Here’s what else is happening:
- Three weekly e-draws for September have already concluded.
- The Big Win Contest, for those who bought two or more cash tickets between September 1 and 24, is now closed. The four finalists will be announced on October 1, each guaranteed a prize between Dh 50,000 and Dh 150,000.
- This month’s
Dream Car prize is a Range Rover Velar, with the draw also happening on October 3. - Looking ahead, November’s Dream Car prize will be the popular Nissan Patrol.
Where to buy Big Ticket entries
Interested participants can buy tickets:
- Online at the Big Ticket website
- Or at physical counters in:
- Zayed International Airport
- Al Ain Airport, UAE