Abdul Salam Muhammad Ashraf won the UAE Lottery Lucky Chance prize of Dh100,000 in a November 2025 Lucky Day draw and spent all of it on his son’s wedding, his own surgery, his daughter’s car purchase in Pakistan, and a charitable donation.
The 55-year-old Pakistani expat, who works as a limousine chauffeur in Abu Dhabi, said he did not keep any of the money for himself.
‘I didn’t buy anything for myself,’ he said. ‘I wanted to use the prize to support my family and help with things that were important to us. That made me very happy.’
How the Dh100,000 was used
Abdul Salam, originally from Sahiwal in Pakistan, won the prize at a point when two pressing needs coincided: his son’s wedding was being planned and he required surgery.
Part of the Dh100,000 covered the wedding celebrations. Another portion paid for his medical treatment, which he described as successful.
‘My son’s wedding was a wonderful family occasion, my surgery was successful, and I was also able to support my loved ones. I’m grateful for that,’ he said.
After those costs, he helped his daughter buy a car in Pakistan and set aside a share for charity, which he said reflected a long-standing wish to assist people in need.
Nine months on, he continues to work as a chauffeur and says he has made no significant changes to his lifestyle.
Where the Lucky Chance prize sits in the draw structure
The Lucky Chance prize that Abdul Salam won corresponds to matching five numbers plus the bonus ball in a Lucky Day draw, which the UAE Lottery operator lists as its third-tier prize at Dh100,000. Entries cost Dh50 each.
The Lucky Day draw’s top prize currently stands at Dh30 million, a level set in December 2024 when the draw moved from fortnightly to weekly, according to The National. A second weekly draw on Wednesdays was added in April 2025.
The operator’s website shows the Lucky Chance draw separately offers Dh50,000 to three winners per draw, a different tier from the Dh100,000 third-prize category Abdul Salam won through the Lucky Day results.
Gulf Today first reported the story on 3 August 2026, also placing the win in one of the November 2025 Lucky Day draws.
Abdul Salam said the experience has prompted him to think about doing more for families in his hometown.
‘If I have the opportunity, I would like to do more charity work and support families in my community back home,’ he said. ‘Giving back has always been important to me.’
The UAE Lottery, operated by The Game LLC, has run 25 draws since its launch.
