A 33-year-old UAE resident from Nepal has become an overnight millionaire thanks to the Mahzooz draw, it was announced on Wednesday.
Surya, a machine operator who works for a private company in Abu Dhabi, won the jackpot on Saturday.
His typical salary is between Dh2,000 and Dh4,000 and the lucky winner is now planning an incredible future.
"I'm still trying to figure out how many zeroes there are in a million dirhams," said Surya, who is married with one child. "Having moved to Abu Dhabi seven years ago, I have sent every dirham I earned to my family in Nepal."
Surya was at work when the draw took place and learnt of his good fortune only on Monday.
He plans to spend the winnings on improving the lives of his family – buying a home for his mother in Nepal and paying for his child's education.
"I've always worried about the future of my family," he said. "But this life-changing win from Mahzooz will ensure that my future is filled with possibilities that were previously out of reach for me. I am extremely grateful."
No further details about the man's circumstances were released but Mahzooz said he was the third participant from Nepal to become a millionaire and the 43rd millionaire created by Mahzooz.
Draws take place every Saturday. Participants can buy a bottle of Mahzooz water for Dh35 and enter the weekly draw for a chance to win the new top prize of Dh20 million ($5.44 million) and a separate draw that guarantees Dh1 million every week.
UAE lottery winners — in pictures
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UAE residents who struck luck with Abu Dhabi's Big Ticket draw attended a gala dinner on Tuesday. Organisers of the draw celebrated the winners' good luck at the Alexandra Dhow Cruise in Dubai Marina. All photos by Leslie Pableo / The National -
The ticket for the grand prize costs Dh500 -
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 -
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 -
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
