A Pakistani factory worker in Abu Dhabi is ready to change the lives of his loved ones after winning the Dh10 million ($2.7m) jackpot in the Mahzooz weekly draw.
Saad, 32, said he planned to bring his family to the UAE after the country was “so good to him”.
At the Mahzooz headquarters in Dubai on Thursday, he explained how he would try to bring good fortune to others.
The machine mechanic, who lives in a labour accommodation and earns Dh2,000 a month, said he could barely believe his eyes when his numbers came up.
I have always wanted to go travelling with my wife. It’s been a long-time dream of ours and now we can finally make it come true at last
Saad
“I had to check with my friends and we all looked at the app on our phones and realised it actually was happening,” he said.
“I was so excited that I was shaking. It was an incredible feeling.
“I haven’t been able to bring my wife to live here but that’s going to change.”
Saad does the draw each week, picking a line himself and asking his wife, who lives in Pakistan, to choose the other.
It was his line consisting of 5, 14, 18, 24 and 35 that came up trumps and made him a multimillionaire overnight.
“I support my wife and my sister back home, who lost her husband last year to a brain tumour, so I am planning on helping them all move to the UAE to get the same opportunities I have,” Saad said.
Turning dreams into a reality
“I have always wanted to go travelling with my wife. It’s been a long-time dream of ours and now we can finally make it come true at last.”
Saad said he was going to spend time following one of his passions – cricket.
He plans to attend the T20 World Cup in Australia this month, but said he would also help some of those involved in the sport closer to home.
He said he was part of the Star Players team that comprised residents of his labour accommodation.
“I am going to make sure we have the very best equipment to play with. We might be called the Star Players but now we really will be," Saad said.
He also plans to make a donation to help victims of the floods in Pakistan and wants to establish a tourism business in the UAE and his home country.
The public can take part in the weekly Mahzooz draw by purchasing a bottle of water for Dh35, which is then distributed to the needy.
Buying the bottle allows you to take part in the draw.
“We’re in the business of making dreams come true and transforming lives,” said Farid Samji, chief executive of Ewings, the company that operates the weekly draw.
“Saad didn’t even have his own debit card or chequebook, he only had a salary account with the bank.
“We’ve had to help him set up a new bank account. That’s one example of how much of a difference this has made to his life.”
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
