A UAE taxi driver wins Dh20m jackpot after his ticket matched the grand prize in the September Big Ticket Abu Dhabi drawing. The winner is Harun Sarder Nur Nobi Sarder, a 44-year-old Bangladeshi expatriate.
He purchased ticket number 035350 on September 14, pooling the ticket with 10 others.
When hosts Richard and Bouchra called him live during the draw, Harun gasped in disbelief and responded, “Ok, ok.”
UAE taxi driver wins Dh20m jackpot Journey & Background
Harun has lived in the UAE since 2009. He works as a private taxi driver in Sharjah. Won UAE taxi driver wins Dh20m jackpot
He said he has bought Big Ticket entries every month and never stopped hoping.
With his family in Bangladesh, he dreams of transforming his life—and theirs—with this win.
UAE taxi driver wins Dh20m jackpot Winnings & Sharing Plan
The full jackpot is Dh20 million. Harun intends to share the prize with the 10 people who co-bought the ticket.
That means each participant receives a portion, making this a collective windfall.
In the same draw, four participants won Dh50,000 each.
A Spin-the-Wheel contest also awarded Dh150,000 among four participants.
One winner, an Indian expat named Susan Robert, walked away with Dh110,000 and expressed plans to invest in her child’s education.
Another winner, Mohammed Saiful Islam Ahamad Nabi, won a Range Rover Velar in this draw.
Reaction & Impact
Harun described the moment as surreal and said he still cannot fully process the win.
He plans to use the money responsibly, support his family, and possibly start a business locally or back home.
For many expatriates working long hours away from families, this win is a rare beacon of hope.
Big Ticket’s Role & Upcoming Draws
The Big Ticket Abu Dhabi draw runs monthly with large raffles and prize categories.
Following this win, Big Ticket announced that the October jackpot will be Dh25 million.
In addition to grand prizes, weekly and side contests (gold bars, cash prizes) keep participants engaged.
Big Ticket organizers emphasize fairness, transparency, and regional participation as key to their draws.
Broader Significance
This kind of jackpot win draws attention to lottery culture in UAE and its appeal to expatriates from South Asia.
It highlights how humble individuals may transform their financial lives overnight.
Stories like Harun’s become symbolic—persistence, hope, and reward meeting fortune.
It also spurs more ticket sales and public interest, making future draws more competitive.
Important Context & Note
Ticket pooling—group buying and sharing—is common among expatriates trying to balance cost and odds.
Lottery laws in UAE remain strict. Winners must comply with regulatory formalities to claim prizes.
Currency, tax, and repatriation rules might affect how much net amount winners actually receive.
Since public details remain limited, Harun’s final distribution, tax liability, and long-term plans await confirmation.
