A Bangladeshi expatriate has won 35 million dirham in Series 247, the first Big Ticket raffle draw of the New Year, which was held in Abu Dhabi.

On December 10, 2022, Mohammed Rayful of Al Ain purchased ticket number 043678, which resulted in his winning the largest grand prize ever.

The 39-year-old winner was working at the time, and the draw organizers made several attempts to reach him on the phone but were unsuccessful.

Fortunately, the organizers were able to get in touch with the Al Ain resident and inform him that he had won the jackpot, reports Khaleej Times.

Rayful has been purchasing tickets for the past nine years while working as a pick-up driver for a business in Al Ain. His winning ticket was bought online by a group of 20 friends, and the reward money will now be divided among them all.

‘I have been living in the UAE for the past 12 years. I can hardly believe that I have won. I am very excited and overjoyed.’

Rayful was unsure when asked what he would do with the money because he has not made any arrangements.