A Bahrain-based businessman has proved that persistence pays off after winning an AED20 million (around BD2m) grand prize in one of the region’s biggest lottery draws.
Krishna Kumar, a 43-year-old from the Indian state of Kerala, has lived in Bahrain for 23 years and has been regularly participating in Big Ticket draws for the past seven years.
He began taking part more consistently around the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, sometimes joining friends to buy tickets and at other times entering on his own. His winning ticket was purchased independently.
“When I found out that I had won, I was in complete shock,” Mr Kumar said in a statement.
“I was literally shaking and still find it hard to believe. The winning ticket had been selected entirely at random,” he added.
Big Ticket is one of the UAE’s largest and longest-running monthly raffle draws, known for its multimillion-dirham cash prizes, luxury cars and gold bars. Launched in 1992 at Abu Dhabi International Airport, it has grown in popularity among residents and expatriates across the GCC. What began as an AED1m grand prize has expanded over the years to reach up to AED35m.
Tickets can be purchased online through the official website or in person at designated outlets in Abu Dhabi.
Mr Kumar said he has yet to decide how he will use the prize and plans to discuss it with his family before making any decisions.
However, online reports suggest his first move could be a selfless one, with plans to allocate part of the winnings to support a long-time friend who has been in a coma for three months following a serious head injury. The two have known each other for nearly eight years.
Mr Kumar said he may participate again in the future and encouraged others to remain persistent.
“I started taking part with the hope of creating better opportunities for myself and my family,” he said.
“My advice to others is to keep trying, stay positive, and never give up.”
Meanwhile, the second winner, M D Ranu Miah, a 39-year-old electrical maintenance worker from Bangladesh who has lived in the UAE for 18 years, won a Range Rover Velar.
The GDN earlier reported that Bahrain-based nurse Manu Mohanan, also from Kerala, won Dh30 million in the Series 270 Big Ticket draw last January after purchasing tickets for nearly six years. Mr Mohanan had taken advantage of a ‘buy two, get one free’ offer, with the complimentary ticket turning out to be the winner.
He first learned about Big Ticket through social media and friends after moving to Bahrain, and continued participating until he struck it lucky.
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