In a heartwarming tale of persistence, a 57-year-old Indian expatriate from Kerala, working as a driver in Dubai for decades, has finally struck gold. Basheer Kaipurath has won a substantial prize of 100,000 dirhams (approximately Rs 24 lakh) in the popular Big Ticket electronic draw, a dream realized after two years of consistent participation.
A Long-Awaited Call of Fortune
According to a report by Gulf News on Sunday, January 5, 2026, Kaipurath's winning ticket bore the number 276640. A resident of the United Arab Emirates for the past 25 years, he had been purchasing Big Ticket entries every single month for the last two years, holding onto hope. The moment of victory arrived with a phone call from the organizers, which initially left Kaipurath in disbelief.
"Dh 100,000? I have won?" he recalled asking, stunned by the news. Even after confirmation, he found himself repeating the details aloud, as if to convince himself it was real: "Yes, I bought a Big Ticket. Dh 100,000?" This reaction underscores the sheer surprise and joy of the unexpected windfall for the hard-working driver.
Plans for the Prize and Future Hopes
Kaipurath, who has spent over two decades navigating the roads of Dubai, has clear intentions for his prize money. A significant portion will be directed towards supporting his family back home in India, a common and cherished goal for countless expatriates in the Gulf region. Interestingly, this win has not quenched his desire to try his luck further.
Despite securing this life-changing amount, Kaipurath announced he has no plans to stop participating in future Big Ticket draws. He remains hopeful that more good fortune is on the horizon, demonstrating an optimistic spirit that kept him going for the past 24 months.
A Trend of Indian Winners in UAE Lotteries
Kaipurath's story adds to a growing list of notable lottery wins by Indian nationals in the UAE. Just months before his win, the country witnessed its biggest-ever prize being claimed by a fellow Indian. In October 2025, Anilkumar Bolla Madhavrao Bolla, aged 29, won a staggering Rs 240-crore jackpot during the 23rd Lucky Day draw, defeating odds of more than 1 in 8.8 million.
Furthermore, in 2024, a Punjabi woman created headlines when she turned a wedding anniversary gift from her husband into a massive win. She used the cash to buy an online raffle ticket and ended up winning $1 million (around Rs 8.3 crore at the time) in the Dubai Duty Free (DDF) Millennium Millionaire promotion. She had been a participant in the draws for 12 years, often buying tickets in her family members' names.
These stories collectively highlight a pattern of patience and perseverance among Indian expats in the UAE, for whom such lottery wins often represent a transformative opportunity to secure their family's future and fulfill long-held dreams.
