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Want to be a millionaire in the UAE? Punch the Big Ticket to a new life

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Abu Dhabi’s Big Ticket lottery draw is the oldest, tried and still trusted, and hence ruling roost despite emerging competition, the hosts of the draw have said at an event in Dubai.

Still going with their first names, Richard and Bouchra, introduced four winners from different backgrounds and for different amounts in front of some media representatives at One Life Cafe on Wednesday in an effort to reach out to the masses.

Big-Ticket-lottery-draw

Richard, left, and Bouchra host Abu Dhabi’s Big Ticket draw on the third of each month. Photos Red Havas ME

“We are the oldest one; we are the only one that never changed our format; we are transparent and we declare our prizes at the start of it and irrespective of how many tickets are sold we give away the prize – guaranteed – in full view of everyone; and there is no rollover,” says Richard. “We get a winner regardless of anything from the name picked out of the drum (of tickets) in front of you, all secured and audited for.”

Originally conducted by the Abu Dhabi Airport Company, the Big Ticket moved under the aegis of Abu Dhabi Duty Free, a similar branding as their counterparts in Dubai.

There is no denying the fact that the Big Ticket has had to evolve a bit going with competition with Mahzooz and Emirates Draw coming in with their own varying formats.

However, with varying amounts each month, Big Ticket has changed lives of thousands with many people clubbing together in the hope to punch the big ticket to fulfil their dreams. This year alone, Big Ticket awarded 60 cash prize winners, whose winnings equate to a total prize value of over AED110 million.

“We are indeed privileged to be life-changers for many and it is such a satisfying job,” says Bouchra. Both hosts had plenty of anecdotes to share of people’s reactions and disbelief. There have been instances when Big Ticket had to go out of the way and spread out messages in public for the winners to get in touch.

“In the rare occurrence that we don’t find the winner – it has happened for the lesser prizes only – we wait for six months before giving it to charity,” a marketing official explained without being named because he was not authorised to speak.

The experiences of the winners gathered separately vouched for the efforts of Big Ticket as they shared their initial feeling of numbness and reality sinking in late for couple of them.

There were inspiring stories of Leena Jalal, Jacob Roy, Shahid Mahmood, and Safwan Nizameddin, a passport holder of St Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean.

“They say that Big Ticket only favours only one or two nationalities, but I am testimony to the fact that it is for everyone. One should have the belief,” said Nizameddin, the oldest of the four but the latest grand prize winner.

Lives changed

Leena, an Indian expat currently residing in Abu Dhabi, shared that she bought the ticket only days prior to the draw with many of her colleagues and friends, and was the luckiest one whose name was chosen after months of trying. Leena seeks to make a difference, just like Big Ticket, and is currently in talks with local charities to donate a percentage of her winnings, while the remaining amount will go towards supporting her family back home.

Jacob, another Indian expat residing in Abu Dhabi since 1990, discussed his commitment to a group of 12 friends that have been pitching in to purchase Big Ticket raffles on a monthly basis, for five years. He won Dh300,000 representing a group of buyers. “I tell others, consider buying the ticket as a job. We are all here as expats to change our lives and BT can do that for us. I and few others also chip in with extra if we have to make up the necessary amount at times.”

Shahid Mahmood is a Dubai-based Pakistani employee working at a glass installation company. After five years of buying BT raffles every month, Shahid received the winning phone call that made his and his friend’s dreams come true with a Dh15m purse.

Big-Ticket-winners

Four Big Ticket winners and the event emcee Lekha Menon in Dubai. From left: Ms Menon, Leena Jalal, Shahid Mahmood, Jacob Roy and Safwan Nizameddin shared their experiences

A longtime resident of Abu Dhabi, Nizameddin has been purchasing tickets every month for the past two years. When the call came, Safwan says his sixth sense kicked in and he instinctually knew he had finally won. The executive manager of a company specializing in power generation is a family man at heart. He plans to use his winnings to purchase properties for his three children as an investment in their future and some for charity.

On a side note, regular buyers of Big Ticket have been curious to know the logic behind different prize amounts each month. Having started at one million dirhams, the highest on offer has been Dh25m although it 10-20 is the common range. Initially, Richard said “the idea behind it is to give it fresh a look, I guess”, but when prodded further, he conceded he wasn’t sure and never checked with his employers.

Nonetheless, the prizes given out on the third of each month remain substantial and undoubtedly have changed many lives.

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Dubai-India Travel: Several flights cancelled as Air India cuts services amid safety concerns

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Planning to fly from Dubai to India soon? Check your flight status before heading to the airport. 

Air India has advised travellers to confirm in advance following the cancellation of several flights, including those from Dubai. 

The move is part of a broader cutback in international operations, as the airline conducts safety inspections across its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. The inspections follow a recent tragic crash involving one of the aircraft.

Among the cancelled international routes are:

  • AI906 (Dubai–Chennai)
  • AI2204 (Dubai–Hyderabad)

Passengers flying on other airlines and looking to connect to their hometowns via Air India should be aware of the suspension of domestic and other international routes, such as:

  • AI308 (Delhi–Melbourne)
  • AI874 (Pune–Delhi)
  • AI456 (Ahmedabad–Delhi)
  • AI2872 (Hyderabad–Mumbai)
  • AI571 (Chennai–Mumbai)

The cancellations come after Air India announced a 15 per cent cut to international flights operated by its widebody aircraft, effective until at least mid-July. The airline said this temporary reduction is necessary due to ongoing safety inspections following the tragic crash of flight AI171 last week.

Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner heading from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 241 people on board and approximately 30 people on the ground. Only one person on the aircraft survived. Authorities continue to investigate the incident.

In a statement, Tata Group-owned Air India said that 26 of its 33 Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft have passed inspections and have returned to service. The airline said the cuts are meant to ensure stable operations, improve efficiency, and minimise passenger inconvenience.

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One visa, 6 countries: UAE confirms game-changing Schengen style GCC tourist pass

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Pack your bags, jet-setters. The Gulf is about to become your next ultimate multi-stop getaway, no extra paperwork needed.  A UAE minister has officially confirmed that a Schengen-style unified tourist visa for all six GCC countries is finally happening.

“The single GCC visa has been approved and should be rolled out soon,” revealed UAE’s Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri at a press event.

That means with one visa, you’ll be able to hop between Dubai’s skyscrapers, Oman’s mountains, Qatar’s museums, Bahrain’s beaches, Saudi Arabia’s mega projects, and Kuwait’s culture scene, all in a single trip.

Say Hello to the GCC Grand Tours Visa!

Nicknamed the “GCC Grand Tours Visa”, the new system is being compared to Europe’s Schengen visa, and yes, it’s that big of a deal.

Forget applying separately for each country. This new visa will give you free rein across the Gulf, making travel cheaper, faster, and way more fun.

Work Hard, Play Harder

Experts say the visa could spark a leisure boom, where business travellers stay longer to explore the region. Think quick meetings in Riyadh, followed by a weekend in Dubai or Muscat.

Plus, it’s expected to supercharge:

  • Tourism across all six countries
  • Job creation in hotels and travel
  • Billions in tourism spending
  • New resorts and attractions on the way!

Gulf Tourism Is Already on Fire

The Gulf isn’t just bouncing back from the pandemic — it’s booming:

  • 68.1 million visitors in 2023
  • $110.4 billion in tourism revenue
  • 42.8% increase in arrivals vs pre-Covid

In the UAE, tourism supported 833,000 jobs in 2022, and this number is expected to reach 1 million by 2030.

Dubai’s Still the Star of the Show

Dubai is leading the regional tourism charge with 7.15 million visitors in just the first four months of 2025, up 7% from last year. And once the unified visa kicks in, expect those numbers to skyrocket.

When Can You Use the Visa?

While there’s no official launch date yet, the visa has cleared its biggest hurdle, government approval. It’s now in the hands of the Ministry of Interior and key stakeholders.

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Middle East

UAE steps up airport emergency plan amid regional airspace closures

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As regional airspace disruptions affect flight paths across the Middle East, the UAE has swiftly activated an emergency operations plan to keep airport services running smoothly and ensure traveller safety.

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) confirmed it has increased staffing across all UAE airports, deploying qualified teams around the clock. These efforts are part of a coordinated response to recent airspace closures in neighbouring countries that have forced airlines to reroute flights.

To minimise disruption, the ICP is working closely with strategic partners and airport operators to fast-track procedures, provide real-time updates to passengers, and ensure immigration and customs processes continue seamlessly.

Authorities have also rolled out support services for delayed travellers, including logistics assistance and access to information desks.

“The safety and service experience of passengers remain our top priority,” the ICP said in a statement, urging travellers to stay updated through official channels.

The UAE’s swift action underlines its commitment to operational readiness and reinforces its reputation as a global travel and logistics hub, even in the face of unexpected regional challenges.

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