Iranian, Nepalese and Maldivian women all winners in Emirates Draw

Organisers say it was unusual to have so many female winners

Rina Lama from Nepal won Dh77,777 in the draw. Photo: Emirates Draw

Three women are among the lucky winners in this week's Emirates Draw, each taking home Dh77,777.

Iranian Faegheh Nasrollahi, Rina Rai Lama from Nepal and Haulath Abdul Raheem from the Maldives all had their raffle tickets picked on Sunday. Organisers said it was unusual to have so many female winners, and from such varied backgrounds, win at the same time.

Ms Nasrollahi, 39, works in a hotel and takes part in the raffle every weekend. After the initial shock of seeing the confirmation email in her inbox, she soon turned her thoughts to who she could help with the money.

I’ve been in Dubai with my husband and two children for only a year and I thought to myself this weekend why not?

Haulath Raheem,
32

“I’m so happy!" she exclaimed.

"I play every week. Its my little ritual. I of course want to help my family and my parents are my world.

"Winning this money changes lots of things for me but most importantly I am grateful to Emirates Draw for helping me make some changes I have been wanting to do for some time.”

Iranian Faegheh Nasrollahi takes part in the draw every week. Photo: Emirates Draw

Ms Lama, 24, dreams of starting her own business with the winnings. She has been an archive clerk in Dubai for four years and had not entered the draw in more than five months.

“I could not sleep all night," Ms Lama explained after hearing the news.

"I was floating on a cloud and I am so excited. I am buzzing!

"I am going to use this money to start my own business. I don’t know what kind of business yet... This money gives me the opportunity to change my life.”

The final female winner had only arrived in Dubai a year ago and this was her first time buying a ticket.

Ms Raheem, 32, bought the ticket on a whim.

“I don’t play at all," said said.

"I’ve been in Dubai with my husband and two children for only a year and I thought to myself this weekend why not? Let me give it a try.

"So when I won it was a feeling of happiness. We come here to work to save for our future and our children’s future and this will help as we are planning on saving this money for a rainy day."

The UAE-based Emirates Draw recently broke records by announcing a Dh100 million grand prize. The lucky winner will have to match all seven numbers in the draw on January 30 at 9pm.

People can take part by purchasing a Dh50 pencil, that contributes towards planting a coral polyp, by visiting www.emiratesdraw.com.

Lottery winners talk about how jackpots changed their lives: in pictures

UAE residents who struck lucky with Abu Dhabi's Big Ticket draw attended a gala dinner. Organisers of the draw celebrated the winners' good luck at the Alexandra Dhow Cruise in Dubai Marina. All photos by Leslie Pableo / The National

Richard Isaac and Bouchra Yamani, the two presenters who pick out the raffle tickets and call the winners, interacted with the winners. Some of attendees had won jackpots of between Dh1 million to Dh15 million, while others won Dh90,000

'The National' spoke to winners about how they have spent their grand prize. Shivamurthy Gali Krishnappa won Dh12 million last month. He said he wants to save for his children's future. For now, he is still working as a mechanical engineer for a stainless steel production company

Shahed Ahmed Moulvifaiz, a Bangladeshi car garage owner in Al Ain, won Dh10 million less than a week ago. He wants to bring his family to the UAE, expand his business and spend on his youngest son's education

Jayaprakash Mariyan Philip had won the Dh1 million prize with nine other people. The funds were split equally, leaving him with Dh100,000. He said he has paid off part of his bank loans

Zaheenn Kausar was visiting her husband in Abu Dhabi from Pakistan, when he bought a ticket under her name. She proved lucky for her family after winning Dh90,000. She wants to pay for her daughter's university tuition and buy a car for herself

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 5,000 people would gather during a live event in Abu Dhabi to watch the draw take place. Since 2020, the draw streams live on social media channels, bringing in even larger crowds

Many people buy multiple tickets together and then split the prize equally. There are also those who win after buying a ticket alone, allowing them to keep the entire jackpot

The Abu Dhabi Big Draw has been changing lives since 1992

The ticket for the grand prize costs Dh500