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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.

Travel

UAE travel: Air Arabia Abu Dhabi announces direct flights to Pakistan’s Sialkot

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Pakistani expatriates in the UAE now have a more convenient and affordable way to travel home, as Air Arabia Abu Dhabi announces the launch of direct flights to Sialkot starting July 17.

The new route will operate between Zayed International Airport and Sialkot International Airport, with flights scheduled every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.

In a statement on Wednesday, the airline said the addition “offers passengers direct and affordable travel between Abu Dhabi and Sialkot,” reflecting growing demand from both business travellers and the sizable Pakistani expatriate population residing in the UAE.

Sialkot, located in north-eastern Punjab near the foothills of Kashmir and along the banks of the Chenab River, is a key industrial and commercial hub with long-standing trade ties to the Gulf.

The route marks the latest expansion in Air Arabia Abu Dhabi’s growing regional network, as the low-cost carrier seeks to bolster connectivity with South Asia and respond to sustained passenger demand across underserved sectors.

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News

Sharjah Police: 99.7 per cent of residents feel safe aross Emirate

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Sharjah has achieved a remarkable milestone in public safety, with 99.7 per cent of residents reporting they feel safe across the emirate, according to the latest 2024 data released by Sharjah Police.

Major General Abdullah Mubarak bin Amer, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police, announced the results, highlighting the community’s growing trust and satisfaction with the emirate’s security efforts. Public confidence in Sharjah Police now stands at 97 per cent

, reflecting strong institutional performance and community engagement.

Key findings from the report:

  • 99.7% feel safe during the day
  • 99.3% feel safe at home at night
  • 99.3% feel safe in public areas at night
  • 98.6% feel safe walking alone at night
  • 98.9% feel safe on the road, whether driving or using public transport
  • 96.7% trust their local police station

Major General bin Amer credited the achievement to the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, whose support has been instrumental in enhancing the emirate’s safety and quality of life.

He thanked the Executive and Consultative Councils of Sharjah and praised the Department of Statistics and Community Development for its scientific approach in collecting public safety data.

According to Brigadier General Omar Ahmed Boualzoud, Director-General of Criminal Security and Ports, the impressive safety figures reflect the effectiveness of the Sharjah Police’s advanced preventive strategies, which prioritise public well-being at the heart of all operations.

Officials stressed that this success is not just a result of internal policing efforts but also the active cooperation of the public, which continues to play a vital role in maintaining safety and community harmony in Sharjah.

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Travel

Emirates launches regular Airbus A350 flights to Muscat ahead of schedule

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Emirates’ next-generation Airbus A350 is now operating daily flights between Dubai and Muscat, making the Omani capital one of the first regional cities to welcome the airline’s latest wide-body aircraft.

Originally scheduled to begin on July 1, the launch was brought forward by a week to meet growing summer travel demand. The daily A350 service operates as flight EK866, departing Dubai at 2:15am and arriving in Muscat at 3:30am. The return leg, EK867, departs Muscat at 4:40am and lands in Dubai at 5:55am, timed to offer seamless onward connections to Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia.

The new Airbus A350 features a three-class configuration with 312 seats: 32 lie-flat Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 layout, 21 Premium Economy seats in a 2-3-2 layout, and 259 Economy seats in a 3-3-3 setup. Passengers across all classes benefit from enhanced comfort features, including higher ceilings, wider aisles, upgraded cabin lighting, ergonomic seating, high-speed Wi-Fi, and Emirates’ award-winning in-flight entertainment system.

The move reinforces Emirates’ long-standing commitment to Oman and expands the A350 network across the region.

In response to increased summer travel, Emirates has also added two more weekly flights on the Dubai, Muscat route, operating on Thursdays and Saturdays. Flight EK862 departs Dubai at 7:55am and arrives in Muscat at 9:05am. The return flight, EK863, departs Muscat at 11:25am and arrives in Dubai at 12:30pm.

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