A Pakistani businessman, Shaukat Aftab, received the surprise of a lifetime this Thursday when he was declared the grand prize winner of Dh15 million in the latest Big Ticket Abu Dhabi draw. The 64-year-old, who has been faithfully purchasing tickets for the past 15 years, was understandably skeptical when hosts Richard and Bouchra called him with the life-changing news. Initially fearing it might be a scam, he was eventually convinced to verify the results on the official YouTube channel, leading to a moment of overwhelming joy and gratitude.

The event also brought good news for other participants, including Ravindranathan Vinesh, an Indian expat residing in Sharjah, who walked away with a brand-new Land Rover Defender. Vinesh, who has called the UAE home for three decades, shared that the win was a heartfelt surprise for his family. Alongside the grand prize and the car, five other individuals—four from India and one from Bangladesh—each secured a cash prize of Dh100,000. With the excitement of this draw now settled, Big Ticket has already set its sights on October, promising an even larger grand prize of Dh20 million for the next round of winners.