UAE
Indian Expat in Abu Dhabi Wins AED 30 Million UAE Lottery Jackpot Using Family Birthdays: An Indian expatriate who left his hometown at the age of 18 in search of a better future has won the AED 30 million (Dh30 million) grand prize in The UAE Lottery’s Lucky Day Draw, turning decades of hard work into an extraordinary success story.
Sunil Kumar Sadasivan, a 52-year-old maintenance technician from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, became only the second Grand Prize winner in the history of The UAE Lottery after matching all seven winning numbers in the Lucky Day Draw held on July 1.Th e jackpot, worth more than ₹78.5 crore, has transformed the life of the long-time Abu Dhabi resident, whose inspiring journey reflects years of sacrifice and determination.
Left India at 18 to Support His Family
Sadasivan’s story is one of perseverance. He left India when he was just 18 years old to work in the Gulf and support his family back home.
Coming from a modest background, he spent decades working tirelessly while helping his family overcome financial challenges. One of his proudest achievements was helping all six of his sisters get married, taking on family responsibilities from a young age.
Despite years of hard work and sacrifice, he remained humble and continued working as a maintenance technician in Abu Dhabi.
Winning Numbers Inspired by Family
Rather than choosing random numbers, Sadasivan selected numbers based on the birthdays of the people closest to him.
“I thought, why not use the dates that matter most to me? I started with my daughter’s birthday, then added mine, and then my wife’s birthday,” he said in a video shared by The UAE Lottery.
His heartfelt strategy proved successful as the chosen dates matched all seven winning numbers, securing the AED 30 million jackpot.
A Father’s Dream Comes True
Sadasivan revealed that he became a father only after waiting 12 years, making his daughter’s birthday especially meaningful.
He said one of his biggest priorities is to invest in his daughter’s education and ensure she has every opportunity for a successful future.
A Life-Changing Surprise
On the night of the draw, Sadasivan checked his phone expecting he might have won a small prize.
Instead, he discovered he had become a multimillionaire.
“When I saw that I had won, I was shocked. I called my wife and told her. But she asked me, ‘Is this for real?'” he recalled.
Even more than a week later, he admitted that the reality of winning had still not fully sunk in.
Plans for the Future
After decades of continuous work, Sadasivan hopes to take some time to rest before beginning a new chapter.
He plans to:
- Invest in his daughter’s education.
- Establish small businesses.
- Support his family’s future.
- Give back to the community by helping those in need.
His remarkable journey—from leaving India as a teenager to supporting six sisters, building a life in the UAE, and ultimately winning one of the country’s biggest lottery prizes—has become an inspiring story of perseverance, family values, and hope.
The UAE Lottery, the country’s first federally licensed lottery regulated by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), continues to hold the Lucky Day Draw every Wednesday and Saturday, offering participants the chance to win the AED 30 million grand prize.
