Indian expat wins record Dh100 million jackpot in UAE lottery
The UAE Lottery has officially named Anilkumar Bolla, a 29-year-old Indian expat and long-time Abu Dhabi resident who has lived in the UAE for over one and a half years, as the winner of the record-breaking Dh100 million jackpot, the largest prize ever awarded in the country.The jackpot, drawn on October 18 during the 23rd Lucky Day Draw #251018, made Bolla an instant multimillionaire after he matched all seven numbers in the exact winning combination, defying odds of 1 in 8,835,372. At the time of the draw, Bolla said he was at home when the UAE Lottery team called to inform him of the win. “I was sitting on the sofa and this feeling that, yes, I won it,” he said. “When I received the call, I thought it was surreal. I kept asking them to repeat the message. It took time to sink in, and even today, I still can’t believe my new reality.” The Dh100 million jackpot was not shared, meaning Bolla takes home the entire amount — making him the first and only individual in the UAE Lottery’s history to secure the largest single payout since its launch.
A record-breaking draw
While Bolla claimed the top prize, the October 18 draw also produced 10 other winners, each taking home Dh100,000. According to organisers, it was a “milestone moment” for the UAE Lottery, which since its launch has produced over 200 winners of Dh100,000, with more than 100,000 players collectively claiming over Dh147 million in prizes. A day after the draw, the UAE Lottery released a teaser clip on Instagram featuring the actual audio of the winning phone call. In it, a representative is heard informing Bolla that he is the lucky winner of Dh100 million, followed by a short, stunned reaction that went viral online. The post was captioned: “What does it sound like to win AED 100,000,000? Stay tuned — the reveal is coming soon.” The full identity of the winner was later revealed on Monday, ending a week of public speculation following the October 18 draw.
How he chose the winning numbers
Bolla’s selection process for the winning ticket was simple but personally meaningful. “I haven’t done any magic or something,” he said. “I just chose the easy pick, and I brought the 12 tickets. The last number is very special. It’s my mom’s birthday.” When buying his ticket, he used a combination of an Easy Pick from the Days set and the number 11 from the Months set — a tribute to his mother’s birth month. “Those numbers were special to me,” he said. “I chose 11 for my mother. I had no idea it would become the key to this win.” Adding to the significance, the win came on the eve of Diwali, India’s festival of lights — a coincidence Bolla called an “exceptional blessing.” “It feels like an exceptional blessing,” he said. “Winning on such an auspicious occasion makes it even more meaningful.”
Plans for the prize
Now adjusting to his new reality, Bolla says his immediate plans are simple. “This sum will change my life forever,” he said. “I plan to buy a supercar first and treat myself to a month-long stay at a seven-star hotel.” He explained that the extended stay will allow him to absorb the reality of his win and carefully plan how to manage his new wealth. “I will take time to carefully plan how to invest this money wisely,” he added. Among his long-term goals is bringing his parents to the UAE and fulfilling their wishes. “I just want to take my family to UAE, and I want to enjoy my whole life staying with them,” he said. “My mom and dad had very small dreams, and I want to fulfil all the dreams, whatever they have, and I want to take care of them.”
Giving back and looking ahead
Bolla also plans to support charitable causes. “I also plan to donate some of the money to the charity, because I believe that donation will reach out to the people who will really require the money. So that gives me the core happiness,” he said. Reflecting on his experience, he added: “I believe that everything happens for a reason. I suggest each and every player to keep playing, and for sure, one day luck will come to you.” He expressed gratitude to the organisers, saying, “I really want to thank you guys have given me the very big opportunity, and I hope this will be continuing for years.”
A historic moment for the UAE lottery
Since its launch, the UAE Lottery has produced over 200 winners of Dh100,000, with more than 100,000 players collectively claiming over Dh147 million in prizes.The October 18 draw, however, marked a defining milestone — awarding the largest single jackpot in the UAE’s history. Organisers described it as a landmark achievement that underscores the lottery’s growing popularity across the country and its role in transforming lives through life-changing rewards.With odds of nearly 1 in 8.8 million, Anilkumar Bolla’s Dh100 million win stands as the UAE Lottery’s biggest payout to date — a moment that has firmly secured its place in the record books.
