A Dubai-based South African expatriate has won Dh5 million in the UAE Lottery’s Lucky Day draw, marking a historic first for a Wednesday edition of the game.
The winner, 39-year-old Branden Tekram, turned his ticket into a life-changing prize, becoming one of the latest beneficiaries of the fast-growing lottery draw in the United Arab Emirates.
Speaking after the win, Tekram said he was initially shocked but believed the victory was destined.
“We were in shock, but I told my wife, this is real. All the time I would tell her, ‘We’re going to win it,’ and I have manifested it into my life,” he said.
He added that the prize will not change his family’s long-term plans, noting that it will instead support an ongoing personal project his wife is working on.
The win comes as the UAE Lottery continues to expand its Lucky Day draws, which now run twice weekly, increasing participants’ chances of winning major prizes.
Each draw features a Dh30 million grand prize, a Dh5 million second prize, and additional guaranteed cash rewards for selected participants.
Organisers say the system is fully regulated by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority to ensure transparency and responsible gaming.
