A 39-year-old South African expat, Branden Tekram, has won AED 5 million in The UAE Lottery’s Lucky Day draw, according to the operator. The company said the win marks “the first time the second prize has been won on a Wednesday draw since its recent introduction.”
Tekram said he discovered the result while checking email. “It’s still overwhelming and unbelievable. I don’t know how to explain it. I mean, I’m a millionaire in Dubai,” he said. He added that he told his wife at home and they “sat there in disbelief.”
The winner said the family plans to take a staged approach to using the money, including funding a prototype linked to a patent application his wife is working on, and potentially moving into a villa. He also said the win could help them access additional support for their son.
The operator said it has awarded more than AED 300 million in prizes to more than 340,000 winners across its portfolio, including Lucky Day, Scratch Cards, and E-Instants. Lucky Day draws run every Wednesday and Saturday, with prizes including the AED 30 million grand prize and AED 5 million second prize. The company said all games are regulated by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA).
