Indian Expat Wins Dh15 Million Big Ticket Draw in Sharjah

For most people, the last week of February 2026 was one of uncertainty, disrupted schedules, and anxious news updates. For Vibeesh Palliyall, a Sharjah-based Indian expat, it turned out to be the week that changed his life forever.

Palliyall purchased ticket number 394150 on February 28 and became the grand prize winner of Big Ticket's Series 284 draw, walking away with Dh15 million. The draw, originally scheduled for March 3 at 7:30 PM Abu Dhabi time, was postponed by a day amid ongoing regional tensions.

Show hosts Richard and Bouchra acknowledged the delay, citing unforeseen developments relating to the current situation. Big Ticket said on its social media channels that the postponement was made out of an abundance of caution, thanking participants for their understanding and continued trust during this time.

When the draw finally aired, Palliyall's ticket number was the one called for the top prize. He is now among the newest Big Ticket millionaires in the UAE. Details about what he plans to do with the winnings are yet to be shared.

Big Ticket Draw Series 284: What the Prize Package Included

Big Ticket is one of the UAE's most recognized and long-running raffle draw programs, conducted monthly out of Abu Dhabi. Each ticket costs Dh500 and is eligible for the monthly grand prize draw as well as weekly electronic draws held throughout the month. Tickets can be purchased online or at counters located at Zayed International Airport and Al Ain Airport.

Series 284, which covered February 2026, offered a guaranteed grand prize of Dh15 million alongside a broader prize structure designed to give participants multiple chances to win. Five consolation prizes of Dh100,000 each were also part of the draw. Throughout the month, Big Ticket hosted four weekly e-draws, each awarding Dh50,000 to four winners, bringing the total number of cash prize winners for the series to 26.

The February draw also featured a luxury car component. A Range Rover Velar was included as the Dream Car prize for the series, drawn live alongside the cash winners. A separate Maserati Grecale promotion continued across February and March, with its live draw scheduled for April.

February 2026 was a particularly active month for Big Ticket. The weekly e-draws in the lead-up to the main event produced consistent winners throughout the month. Earlier in February, three Indian nationals won Dh50,000 each in a weekly electronic draw as part of the same series. Among them was Joykutty Mathew, a 72-year-old retired engineer from Kerala who received the news while visiting family in Abu Dhabi. Mathew had spent more than 25 years working in Dubai before retirement and had been a regular Big Ticket participant throughout that time.

The draw's track record of winners from diverse nationalities reflects the UAE's own makeup. Past Big Ticket grand prize recipients have come from India, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and other countries, with draws attracting participants both within the UAE and from abroad.

For many expat residents working far from home, a multimillion-dirham prize represents not just financial security but the ability to return home, buy property, support family, or achieve stability that years of work alone may not guarantee. The draw's transparency, with live broadcasts, publicly announced ticket numbers, and a verifiable winners list, has helped build and maintain trust among participants over the years.

Palliyall's win is the latest in a series of high-profile Big Ticket victories involving South Asian expats based in the UAE. Just one month earlier, another Indian expat won Dh20 million in the Big Ticket Abu Dhabi live draw, underscoring how frequently the South Asian community features among the program's top winners.

For Vibeesh Palliyall, the wait through a tense and uncertain week made the announcement all the sweeter. From Sharjah, with ticket 394150 in hand, he joins a growing list of ordinary residents whose lives were transformed by a single draw.