A Nepali security guard living in Abu Dhabi has become the first UAE lottery jackpot winner under the current jackpot formula, turning a routine email check into a Dh30 million windfall.Tayyab Khan, 26, moved to the UAE four years ago in search of better opportunities. This week, he discovered that a lottery ticket he bought with four of his friends won the grand prize, and each member of the group is scheduled to receive 6 million dirhams.Khan said he initially didn’t care much about the email informing him of the win because he had previously received messages about smaller prizes.“I thought it was another little win,” he said. “When I opened the email and saw the Dh30 million, I couldn’t believe it.
“My whole body was shaking.”The winning ticket was part of a long-standing arrangement between five friends who regularly pooled money to participate in the lottery. The group started buying tickets in early 2024 after Khan came across the UAE Lottery online and suggested they try their luck together.Instead of relying on one person, friends took turns choosing numbers each week. Although they have sometimes won smaller prizes by matching several numbers, the jackpot has remained elusive until now.
Khan said the first person he called after the win was confirmed was his uncle in Nepal, whom he credits with helping him move to the UAE and build a life abroad.“He has always supported me as a father,” Khan said. “When I told him how much we won, he was speechless.”Despite the life-changing compensation, Khan said his priorities remain focused on family. His first major goal was to build a new home for his relatives in Nepal, something he had hoped to achieve long before he won the grand prize.The 26-year-old also plans to invest part of his stake and explore business opportunities after spending the past four years working as an employee.Meanwhile, he admits there are some personal ambitions he now hopes to achieve, including buying a Mahindra Thar and a Rolex watch.Khan said the award will change the lives of the five winners, each of whom faces different responsibilities and achievements.“One friend had been away from his family for years, another had recently gotten married, and another had just become a father,” he added. “I’m happy because this win will help us all.”
