Kulwant Singh, an Indian expatriate from Punjab working as a truck driver in Dubai for 18 years, has struck it rich, winning Dh500,000 (approximately ₹1.3 crore) in the Abu Dhabi Big Ticket’s Series 291 draw. The 53-year-old, who resides with his family in Dubai’s Jebel Ali area, plans to share his significant winnings with a group of five friends.
For nearly two years, Singh and his friends have maintained a monthly ritual of purchasing lottery tickets collectively. Their persistence paid off when Singh, selecting a ticket number at random for their latest entry, unknowingly picked the winning combination. He expressed immense happiness upon learning of their win, highlighting the joy of finally receiving good news after consistent participation.
A Shared Fortune for a Shared Future
The Dh500,000 prize will be distributed among the six group members. Singh intends to allocate his portion of the winnings to support his family and contribute towards their home. Despite this unexpected windfall, he stated his intention to continue participating in future Big Ticket draws, perhaps hoping to repeat their good fortune.
Singh's journey into the lottery began several years ago after he discovered Big Ticket through online videos. He decided to join around two years ago, transforming ticket purchases into a regular monthly activity with his friends.
Other Indian Expatriates Also Win
Singh was not the only Indian expatriate to secure a prize in the Series 291 draw. Muhammed Ijas C., a 30-year-old engineer from Kerala living in Ajman, won Dh100,000 (approximately ₹26 lakh). Unlike Singh's random selection, Ijas chose his winning number based on his son’s birthdate and birth year, making the win particularly meaningful for him. Ijas, who discovered Big Ticket via Instagram and YouTube about six months prior, also shares his prize with a group of 10 participants, planning to use his share for his son.
Overall, five Indian expatriates collectively won Dh1.95 million in consolation prizes during the Series 291 draw, including Setvan Kumar Chauhan (Dh100,000) and Ajith Kumar Vannarath (Dh250,000).