20 Years, One Ticket, Big Win: Kerala Expat Wins Dh150,000 in UAE
Jacob, who has been living in the UAE since 2004, never missed a month without buying a ticket. For 20 straight years, he kept the faith—and it finally led to a win.
'When I got the call, I thought it was a scam,' Jacob admitted. 'I've been trying for so long, I never imagined I'd actually win.'
His winning ticket, number 204700, was part of a group entry shared with 11 colleagues. The moment was announced by Big Ticket host Richard, catching Jacob completely off guard.
Confused at first, he thought the call was about the upcoming Dh25 million grand draw on July 3. Once the details were clarified, the reality of the win sank in, and Jacob became emotional.
'I don't know what to say… Thank you very much,' he said. 'I've been trying for the past 20 years.'
Now that he's had his first taste of luck, Jacob and his team are more determined than ever.
'It's a 12-person ticket, so we'll split the prize,' he said. 'We'll keep buying together and hope to win the grand prize one day.'
'Keep trying. You never know which day will be your lucky one.'
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