Kerala Bartender in Dubai Hits Dh50,000 in Big Ticket Draw After Years

A bartender from Kerala, who has lived in Dubai for 13 years, has won Dh50,000 in the latest Big Ticket weekly e-draw, marking a milestone for a long-standing dream. His ticket, number 062978, belonged to an 11-member group with whom he had pooled funds over several years.

The winner, identified as Shiju Muthathian Veettil, said he was midway through his shift when the notification call came. Unaware at first, he described the moment as “the happiest call I’ve ever received.” He confirmed he will share the prize equally with his group members.

Big Ticket’s draw mechanism allows multiple winners to receive Dh50,000 each, with pooled ticket purchasing a common strategy among expatriate workers. The full monthly campaign culminates in a major live draw for a grand prize, often in the order of millions of dirhams.

Shiju’s win reinforces a pattern seen this month: expatriates across the UAE—particularly from India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia—are recording Dh50,000 wins in Big Ticket’s weekly draws. One such example is Connie Tabalujan from Abu Dhabi, who also claimed Dh50,000 despite initially thinking the call about her win was a prank. On another occasion, Biju Jose from India secured Dh50,000 through an online ticket purchased earlier in September.

In previous months, larger Big Ticket prizes have drawn attention. In July, for instance, the grand prize of AED 25 million was claimed by Mohammed Naser Balal, an electrician originally from Bangladesh. Alongside that, the campaign awarded several Dh50,000 weekly prizes and dream-car awards, such as a Nissan Patrol and Range Rover models.

Analysts observe that group participation is now a near-ubiquitous tactic among regular entrants. By contributing modest amounts over time, small workgroups increase the odds of holding a winning ticket. Some expats treat Big Ticket entries as a long-shot investment—hoping that a Dh50,000 windfall can provide breathing room amid rising living costs.

The Dh50,000 weekly prize is a fixed amount for four winners each week, while the grand prize, drawn live, carries much higher stakes. For the current September campaign, the grand live draw is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on 3 October. Participants must have purchased two or more tickets in a single transaction between 1–24 September to qualify for a supplementary contest called “Big Win,” which offers guaranteed cash rewards to finalists.