Four expats win 200‑gram gold bars in Big Ticket October draw

Four expats secure gold prizes

On Friday 16 October 2026, four expatriates from India and the Philippines each received a 200‑gram, 24‑karat gold bar after Big Ticket’s weekly e‑draw. Two of the winners come from Mumbai and have been long‑term residents of the UAE.

Father describes son as lucky charm

One of the victors, Mohamed Yahya Tanwar, is recognised as a person of determination. His father, a 56‑year‑old business owner, purchased the ticket in Mohamed’s name. The father has lived in the Emirates for the past 40 years, now resides in Sharjah with his family, and runs a firm originally started by his own father. He has bought Big Ticket tickets sporadically over the last year. For the winning entry, Mohamed chose the number himself. The father said, “My son has been my lucky charm since the day he was born. I’ve always believed that he brings good fortune into my life and my business, which is why I decided to purchase the ticket under his name,” his father shared. When the winning call arrived, he first suspected a scam and did not answer. After checking the results online, he was overjoyed to learn his son’s ticket had won. He added, “This is Mohamed’s ticket, so the prize money belongs to him. I want to use it for whatever he needs,” he explained. The win has motivated him to keep playing, hoping for the top prize: “If we’ve been lucky enough to win once, hopefully we can win again. I’ll definitely keep trying my luck and aim for the grand prize.”

Group win sparks bigger ambitions

Rahul Ghadge, a 43‑year‑old business owner from Maharashtra, India, has been based in the UAE for the past 21 years. He regularly teams up with a circle of 28 friends who buy tickets together each month. For the latest draw, one friend selected the number at random, never expecting it to secure a win. Rahul remarked, “Everyone in our group was really happy when we found out. None of us expected to win, so it was such a wonderful surprise,” Rahul shared. The outcome has prompted the group to aim higher, with plans to purchase two tickets every month in pursuit of the grand prize. Having undergone a kidney transplant, Rahul stresses the value of looking ahead with hope and appreciating every opportunity. The gold bar will be divided among the 28 participants; Rahul intends to save his portion and use some of it for future Big Ticket entries. He noted, “We all contribute a small portion of our income to participate, and moments like this give us something to look forward to,” he explained. He encouraged others, saying, “I believe Big Ticket can really help people get closer to achieving their dreams. You never know when your chance might come.”

Individual winners share reactions

Shibin Baby, originally from Kerala, India, has lived in Dubai for the past three years and has been a Big Ticket participant for about a year. He bought the winning ticket, number 085045, on his own. When Richard called to announce the result, Shibin was stunned and unsure whether he had actually won. He immediately switched to Big Ticket’s live draw on YouTube to verify. Seeing his ticket listed as a winner, his initial shock turned into pure joy and laughter. As someone who regularly invests in gold, Shibin was especially pleased to receive a gold bar and plans to retain it as an investment, calling the unexpected win more meaningful.

Mark Palmitos, a 31‑year‑old administrative worker from the Philippines, has resided in Sharjah for the past six years with his wife and son. He first learned about Big Ticket through colleagues nearly two years ago and began playing with a group of ten coworkers who purchase tickets together hoping for a win. While driving home from work, he received the unexpected winning call. He said, “I was driving home when I got the call, and I was so surprised to hear that we had won,” he shared. He later messaged the group, and the next day at the office he told them, “When I met everyone at the office the next day, they were all so happy. It was such a wonderful feeling to celebrate the win together.” The prize will be split among the ten colleagues; Mark intends to use his share for his son’s future, stating, “I want to use the money for my son and his future,” he said. The experience has encouraged him and his colleagues to continue entering future draws, and he added, “Don’t lose hope. This win is a blessing for us, and I would encourage everyone to keep trying their luck. You never know when your moment might come.”