Indian and Filipino expats in the UAE ring in 2026 with Big Ticket wins
The new year began on a celebratory note for five expatriates living in the UAE after they emerged as winners in the latest Big Ticket weekly e-draw, which concluded the final promotion of 2025. The Week 4 draw not only closed out the year but also ushered in 2026 with surprise, joy, and renewed optimism for participants from India, the Philippines, and the UAE.
Leading the list was Philip Mathew, an Indian expatriate who became the first Big Ticket winner of 2026. He purchased the winning ticket, number 499759, during the final week of the December promotion, marking a memorable start to the year.
Another winner was Mohammed Alteneiji, a 24-year-old army serviceman from Ras Al Khaimah. Born and raised in the UAE, Alteneiji has been purchasing Big Ticket entries independently for the past year. Reacting to the news, he said he was overwhelmed with happiness and shock upon receiving the call. He plans to travel and enjoy the moment, while continuing to participate in future draws.
Ashar Ali Thottom Kandy, a 36-year-old electronics technician from Kerala, India, also joined the winners’ circle. Currently working in Saudi Arabia while his family resides in India, Ashar learned about Big Ticket through colleagues and entered as part of a group of 20 participants. Initially suspecting the winning call to be a scam, he later described the confirmation as an unexpected and joyful surprise. He plans to share the prize with his group and save his portion for the future.
Dubai-based engineer Sultan Syed Aboo Thahir Azad, who has lived in the UAE for 23 years, also welcomed 2026 with an unexpected win. Having purchased tickets intermittently over the years, he said the call came as a surprise following New Year celebrations. While still considering how to use the prize, he has already purchased another ticket and plans to continue participating.
Completing the list of winners was Nomer Materiano, a 48-year-old Filipino salesman who has lived in Abu Dhabi for two decades. He learned of his win on January 1 and initially believed the call was a scam. Once confirmed, he said the news brought great happiness to his family. Materiano plans to save the winnings for his 11-year-old son’s future.
The final Big Ticket e-draw of 2025 highlighted the initiative’s continued popularity among expatriates across the region, with winners sharing common themes of surprise, gratitude, and optimism as they began the new year on a winning note.
