‘I looked again and realised I had won’: Indian expat in Abu Dhabi wins UAE Lottery’s Dh30 million jackpot

A 52-year-old Indian expatriate based in Abu Dhabi has won the UAE Lottery’s Dh30 million (approximately Rs 77 crore) jackpot, becoming the second grand prize winner since the country’s federally licensed lottery introduced its Lucky Day draw earlier this year.

Sunil Kumar Sadasivan matched all seven winning numbers in the Lucky Day draw held on July 1, securing the life-changing prize after purchasing a Dh50 ticket.

Recalling the moment he discovered he had won, Sunil said he initially thought he had misread the numbers.

“When I first looked at it, I couldn’t believe it. Then I looked again and saw the full number. That’s when I realised I had won,” he said.

His victory comes barely five weeks after the UAE Lottery crowned its first Dh30 million jackpot winner, highlighting the growing popularity of the Lucky Day draw among residents across the Emirates.

Second jackpot winner

Sunil is only the second person to claim the Dh30 million grand prize since the Lucky Day format was launched.

The inaugural winner, announced in June, was 26-year-old Nepalese security guard Tayab Khan, who shared his Dh30 million winnings equally with four friends after the group jointly purchased the winning ticket.

Apart from the two jackpot winners, the lottery has also produced a Dh5 million second-prize winner within a few months of operations, reflecting the pace at which major prizes are being claimed.

Lottery officials said every draw begins with a clean slate, ensuring each participant has an equal chance of winning regardless of previous results.

Draws held twice a week

The Lucky Day draw takes place every Wednesday and Saturday at 9.30 pm UAE time.

Each draw offers a Dh30 million grand prize, a Dh5 million second prize and three guaranteed Lucky Chance prizes worth Dh50,000 each.

Tickets cost Dh50, making participants eligible to compete for the top prize in every draw.

The UAE Lottery is the country’s first federally licensed lottery and is regulated by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), which oversees commercial gaming activities in the country.

The lottery is operated by The Game LLC, which says it follows responsible gaming practices and allows participation only by UAE residents aged 18 years and above.