Key takeaway: Tayab Khan, a 26-year-old security guard from Nepal living in Abu Dhabi, has become the first Grand Prize winner of The UAE Lottery’s Lucky Day draw under its current jackpot format, taking home Dh30 million. The ticket was bought through a five-friend pool that had played together since early 2024, so the prize is split equally — Dh6 million each.
Four years ago, Tayab Khan arrived in the UAE from Nepal hoping for a better future. This week, he is celebrating a life-changing Dh30 million win, shared with four friends who had been buying lottery tickets together for more than a year.
Here is how it happened, and what the five winners plan to do next.
“It felt like a dream”: how he found out
Khan did not even watch the draw. He learned the news through an email.
“I had received similar emails before for small prizes, so I didn’t think much of it,” he said. “But when I opened the email and saw Dh30 million, my hands were shaking, my legs were shaking. It felt like a dream.”
It is a reaction many UAE Lottery winners describe, though few at this scale.
Five friends, one ticket, Dh6 million each
The winning entry belonged to a group of five close friends who pooled their money each week. The jackpot is being divided equally, leaving each of them with Dh6 million.
Khan said the group started playing in early 2024 after he came across the lottery while scrolling through Facebook. “There are five of us in total. We pooled our money and bought tickets regularly,” he said. “Each week, one person would take turns selecting the numbers.”
Over time, they matched three or four numbers on several occasions, winning small prizes that kept them going. “There were times when it felt like it wasn’t going to happen, but we never lost hope,” he said.
Group play like this is common among lottery participants. If you want the mechanics behind it, our guide to how the UAE Lottery’s Lucky Day draw works explains the numbers, the odds and the prize tiers.
The first call home to Nepal
The first family member Khan told was his uncle in Nepal, a man he describes as a father figure who helped him move to the UAE in the first place.
“He’s the reason I came here,” Khan said. “When I told him how much we had won, he was completely speechless, and tears rolled down his face.”
What the winners plan to do
For Khan, the money means more than financial freedom. His first goal is to build a home for his family in Nepal. “My first goal was always to buy a good house for my family. Now I can build a proper house in a good location with everything a family needs.”
He also wants to move beyond salaried work. “I have worked as an employee for four years. Now I want to move to the next level. I want to explore entrepreneurship and investment.”
There are a couple of personal treats on his list too. “I have been eyeing a Mahindra Thar Jeep and a Rolex watch,” he said.
The timing lands differently for each of his friends. “One of my friends has been away from his family for many years. Another has just got married, and one has just become a father. I am very happy for all of us,” he said.
How the UAE Lottery’s Lucky Day draw works
The UAE Lottery is the country’s first federally licensed lottery, operated by The Game LLC under the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). Players pick numbers for the Lucky Day draw, and prizes scale from small amounts up to the Grand Prize.
Since launching, the lottery has grown quickly, passing hundreds of thousands of registered players and expanding into retail outlets. For a clear breakdown of the rules, age limits and what is officially confirmed about the draw, the independent gaming resource Casino in Dubai keeps a detailed explainer of the framework.
Winners receive prizes through verification and transfer steps, which our guide to claiming UAE Lottery winnings sets out in full.
Participation is open to UAE residents aged 18 and over, and the lottery runs under regulated player-protection controls. As with any game of chance, it is worth treating tickets as entertainment and playing within your means rather than as a way to make money.
Frequently asked questions
How much did Tayab Khan win in the UAE Lottery? He won the Dh30 million Grand Prize, the first under the Lucky Day draw’s current jackpot format. Shared between five friends, each receives Dh6 million.
Did one person win the Dh30 million? No. The ticket was bought by a pool of five friends who had played together since early 2024, so the prize is divided equally.
How did the winner find out? Through an email notification. He had received similar emails for smaller prizes before, so the Dh30 million figure took him by surprise.
How does the UAE Lottery work? It is the UAE’s first federally licensed lottery, run by The Game LLC under GCGRA oversight. Players select numbers for the Lucky Day draw, with prizes ranging from small sums up to the Grand Prize.
Who can play the UAE Lottery? Participation is open to UAE residents aged 18 and over, under regulated player-protection rules.
What does the winner plan to do with the money? Khan’s first priority is building a home for his family in Nepal, followed by exploring business and investment. He also mentioned wanting a Mahindra Thar and a Rolex.
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