A Filipino salesman is looking forward to a dream wedding after scooping a Dh1 million ($272,260) lottery win.
Persistence paid off in spectacular style for Antonio, 33, who plays the UAE's Mahzooz lotto every week.
The Dubai resident, whose surname was not disclosed by lotto organisers, is regularly glued to the live broadcast, but this week he missed the draw.
Instead, he received a life-changing call from the Mahzooz team to tell him of his good fortune.
Now wedded bliss is on the cards for Antonio and his partner after he matched five of the six numbers.
“I participate in Mahzooz every week and never miss a draw. However, I couldn’t watch the live draw this week and I didn’t realise I won until I received a call from the Mahzooz team congratulating me," he said.
"I was shocked and couldn’t believe it. I’ve never expected I would win such a big amount of money. This is a life-changing win to say the least. I feel blessed and overwhelmed."
Dubai's latest millionaire has lived in the emirate for three years and can now look forward to the future with an extra spring in his step.
“This money is such a blessing for us and our whole family,” Antonio said.
“My fiancé and I can finally have our dream wedding and set ourselves up for the future.”
He will also use his newfound wealth to support his family and community members affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
“I have a nephew who was dreaming of studying abroad and I plan on helping him pay for that,” Antonio said.
“Also, my friend works in a church in Oud Metha, and I know a lot of people in that community have really been hit hard during the Covid-19 pandemic. I will donate some of my winnings to the church to help those in need.”
Antonio is grateful for the win that has transformed his life and has a message to his fellow Mahzooz participants.
“Life won’t always be easy, but Mahzooz is there to help. Always look at the bright side: no matter what you go through, there will be blessings along the way,” Antonio said.
Participants in the draw must register online and buy a Dh35 bottle of water to enter. The water is collected by the organisation and donated to charity.
UAE's lucky lottery winners:
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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
