Tonight the life of an Indian expatriate in Sharjah is completely upturned after he won the grand prize in the Big Ticket Abu Dhabi draw. Vibeesh Palliyali takes the big prize, scoring Dh15 million (or about ₹34 crore) in Series 284. The live draw was started by the charismatic duo Richard and Bouchra, at an event which had been delayed for 24 hours because of “unforeseen regional developments.” The delay only fueled the curiosity of thousands around the world.
The Winning Moment
On 28 February, Vibeesh obtained a lucky break with ticket number 394150 just hours before entries in the March draw were to close. The studio was buzzing as the hosts gave the life-altering call. After Vibeesh found out he was the only winner of the Dh15 million jackpot, he felt overwhelmed, having now been residing in Sharjah since. The majority of winning contestants line up in bulk to split the tickets, but word quickly spreads that Vibeesh’s victory sent ripples of joy through his local community in the United Arab Emirates.
Postponement and Anticipation
The draw was set to begin March 3, but had been moved instead to March 4 “out of an abundance of caution.” Big Ticket organizers assured the public to be patient and that safety as well as integrity of the event come first.
A Month of Winners
Vibeesh brought home the headline prize, but others were cheering. Many others, mostly of Indian and Pakistani background were awarded consolation prizes between Dh50,000 and Dh100,000.
Series 284 Highlights:
- Grand Prize: Dh15 Million (Vibeesh Palliyali WON)
- Winning Ticket: 394150
- Purchase Date: February 28, 2026
- Next Big Draw: Series 285, leading to a Dh20 Million jackpot on April 3.
About Big Ticket Abu Dhabi
Big Ticket, founded in 1992 at the Abu Dhabi International Airport, grew into the area’s largest and most recognizable raffle draw. It has long been known as a place that "makes dreams come true” – particularly for the South Asian expat community in the Gulf. And now, as Vibeesh Palliyali grapples with his newfound fortune, the Big Ticket fever continues; tickets for the Dh20 million April draw are already in high demand.
