Dreams of Homecoming The 30-year-old hopes to start his own business in India with the prize money

4 september 2025

An Indian expatriate in Dubai has struck gold by winning the Dh15 million (₹35 crore) grand prize in the Abu Dhabi Big Ticket Series 278 draw held on September 3, 2025. The winner, Sandeep Kumar Prasad, a 30-year-old technician working at Dubai Drydocks, is originally from Uttar Pradesh and has been residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the past three years.

Sandeep’s winning ticket, number 200669, was purchased on August 19 as part of a 20-member group. He shared that he had only been participating in the Big Ticket raffle for three months before his remarkable win. Initially sceptical when he received the call from the hosts, Sandeep was soon overwhelmed with joy after realizing his fortune was real.

Speaking to Gulf News, Sandeep expressed that this win has brought unprecedented happiness into his life. “For the first time in my life, there is so much happiness,” he said, adding that the prize money would allow him to address his father’s health concerns, support his family, and eventually start his own business in India.

Sandeep, originally from Uttar Pradesh, has always led a humble life. Married and responsible for two brothers and a sister, he has been fulfilling his family obligations while working abroad. His father’s health has been a major worry, and the win has given him the strength and confidence to provide better care and create a more secure future for his loved ones.

Sandeep offered an encouraging message to those still trying their luck, saying, “If you try, you will also win.” In a remarkable coincidence, Sandeep’s ticket was selected by Sabuj Miah Amir Hossain Dewan, a Bangladeshi tailor in Dubai, who bagged Dh20 million in the August 3 draw with his very first ticket. With this stroke of luck, Sandeep joins the growing list of expatriates whose lives have been transformed through the Abu Dhabi Big Ticket. For him, the win is more than just money—it is a chance to heal, to dream, and to return home with renewed hope for a brighter future.