A Nepali security guard living in Abu Dhabi has become the first winner of the UAE Lottery’s Lucky Day jackpot, turning a routine email check into a Dh30 million windfall.Tayab Khan, 26, moved to the UAE four years ago in search of better opportunities. This week he discovered that a lottery he bought with four friends had won the jackpot, with each member of the group receiving Dh6 million.Khan said he initially did not notice the email informing him of his win because he had previously received news about smaller prizes.“I think it’s another small victory,” he said. “When I opened the email and saw 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 chipped in money to enter the lottery. The group began buying tickets in early 2024 after Khan discovered the UAE lottery online and suggested they try their luck together.Instead of relying on one person, the friends take turns being responsible for choosing the numbers each week. Although they occasionally win smaller prizes by matching multiple numbers, the jackpot has so far remained out of reach.Khan said he was the first to call his uncle in Nepal after his win was confirmed, and he credits his uncle with helping him move to the UAE and build a life abroad.“He has always supported me like a father,” Khan said. “When I told him how much money we won, he was speechless.”Although the prize has changed his life, Khan said his first priority remains family. His first major goal was to build a new home for relatives in Nepal, something he had wanted to achieve long before he won the big prize.The 26-year-old also plans to invest some of his shares and explore business opportunities after working as an employee for the past four years.At the same time, he admitted that he now hopes to fulfill some personal ambitions, including buying a Mahindra Thar and a Rolex watch.Khan said the award will be life-changing for all five recipients, each of whom faces different responsibilities and milestones.“One friend has been away from his family for years, another recently got married, another just became a father,” he said. “I’m glad this win helps us all.”
