Indian teacher in Dubai wins big ticket lottery: 'Thought the winning call was a scam'

Ritesh Dhanak, a 52-year-old computer teacher from Gujarat, has lived in Dubai for 30 years.

Published on: Dec 17, 2025, 13:54:29 IST

By Shivya Kanojia

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

After years of persistence, an Indian teacher in Dubai has finally hit the jackpot with Big Ticket. Ritesh Dhanak, a 52-year-old computer teacher from Gujarat, has lived in Dubai for 30 years.

The man tried his luck for 15 years with the weekly Big Ticket lottery. (Unsplash)

The man tried his luck for 15 years with the weekly Big Ticket lottery. This week, his long wait ended when he won Dh100,000 in the e-draw, Gulf News reported.

The win came as a complete surprise. Ritesh had not intended to buy a ticket this time. A promotional call about Big Ticket’s ‘buy 2, get 3’ offer convinced him to join two friends in making a purchase.

Days later, he received the call he least expected, notifying him of his win.

Celebrating his first-ever Big Ticket victory, Ritesh said he plans to use the money for a family holiday and to support his daughter’s graduation. Despite the unexpected win, Ritesh intends to continue playing. He encouraged others not to lose hope.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shivya Kanojia
Shivya Kanojia is a journalist at Hindustan Times, where she works in the fast-paced digital news ecosystem with a strong sense of editorial judgement and a clear understanding of what makes a story both important and traffic-driven. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Shivya brings a thoughtful balance of news value and audience relevance to her work, ensuring stories resonate beyond the immediate headline. Over the course of her three-year journey in the digital news space, Shivya has worked across a wide range of beats, including politics, civic issues, human-interest features and trending news. This diverse exposure has shaped her ability to approach stories with nuance, adaptability and context, whether she is breaking down complex developments or spotlighting everyday narratives that often go unnoticed. She is particularly drawn to human-interest stories, interviews and explainers that offer depth and clarity, aiming to move past surface-level reporting to explore the people, emotions and circumstances behind the news. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Shivya worked with Firstpost and Times Now, where she covered a broad spectrum of topics and honed her skills in digital journalism . Outside the newsroom, Shivya enjoys discovering new cafés, drawn to good coffee, cosy spaces and unhurried conversations. Shopping is another pastime she cherishes, not always out of necessity, but often guided by instinct and the simple joy of stumbling upon unexpected finds. Above all, she treasures time spent with loved ones, finding meaning in shared laughter, simple moments and memories that linger long after.Read More

Dubai

Get Latest Updates on Trending News Viral News, Video, Photos and Weather Updates of India and around the world