Persistence has finally paid off for Manjunath Harohalli, a 46-year-old Indian expatriate from Bengaluru, who has been trying his luck in Abu Dhabi’s famous Big Ticket raffle for the past seven years. The long-time Al Ain resident, who once missed the Dh15 million grand jackpot by just one number, has now struck gold — literally — by winning a 250-gram 24K gold bar in Big Ticket’s weekly e-draw.

Years of perseverance pay off

Manjunath, who works as a store manager and has been living in Al Ain for over two decades with his wife and two children, began buying Big Ticket entries after hearing about it from his friends. Initially, he used to purchase tickets as part of a group of five people but now buys with just one friend.

Despite experiencing the heartbreak of narrowly missing the top prize, Manjunath never gave up. “I always believed my time would come,” he said, recalling the moment he realised he had finally won. “This time, I decided to buy the ticket with my daughter, and it turned out to be my lucky one.”

Missed calls, then a golden surprise

Interestingly, Manjunath almost missed the news of his win. “I actually missed two calls because I was asleep,” he said with a laugh. “When I finally checked, I couldn’t believe it at first. I had to verify it twice to be sure. My family was overjoyed, and I’ve promised to buy a gift for my daughter since she’s my lucky charm.”

The 250g gold bar — valued at over Dh60,000 (approx ₹13 lakh) — marks his first major win since he began participating in Big Ticket draws. For Manjunath, the victory is more than just a prize; it’s a validation of patience and hope.

A family that believes in luck and hard work

Manjunath’s family has been his strongest support system throughout his journey abroad. Having worked in the UAE for more than 20 years, he has built a modest but stable life in Al Ain. His wife and children, who joined him several years ago, shared in his joy when the win was announced.

“My daughter couldn’t stop smiling when she heard the news,” he said. “She’s convinced she’s the reason behind the win — and she’s probably right!”

Big Ticket’s growing popularity among Indian expats

The Big Ticket draw, one of the UAE’s oldest and most popular raffles, has made several Indian expatriates overnight millionaires over the years. It regularly offers cash prizes of up to Dh25 million, along with luxury cars and gold.

Indian participants, who form a large portion of Big Ticket buyers, often share stories of persistence similar to Manjunath’s. The draws are held monthly at Abu Dhabi International Airport, and weekly e-draws offer smaller rewards such as gold bars or cash prizes.

“Never give up,” says the winner

Even after his win, Manjunath insists he isn’t stopping anytime soon. “I’ll definitely keep participating in Big Ticket draws,” he said. “My advice to others is simple — never give up, because your luck can change anytime. I’m truly grateful to Big Ticket for this wonderful surprise.”

A dream that continues

For now, Manjunath plans to celebrate his victory with his family before returning to work. While the gold bar is a significant milestone, his dream of hitting the Dh15 million jackpot still shines bright.

“I came so close once,” he said. “Maybe next time, I’ll get that call again — but for the big one.”