A 26-year-old Nepalese national working as a security guard in Abu Dhabi has emerged as the first winner of the
The life-changing news arrived during the Eid Al Adha holiday. Rather than watching the live broadcast, Khan discovered he had won through an automated email notification. Initially assuming the message concerned a minor prize—a common occurrence for the group—he was stunned to find the full jackpot amount displayed. He later described the moment as overwhelming, noting that he was physically unable to speak as the reality of the win set in.
A Shared Fortune Among Friends
The jackpot, equivalent to approximately $8.2 million, will not be kept by Khan alone. The winning ticket was purchased by a five-member syndicate known as Future Millionaires, a group that had been pooling their resources to play the lottery for 18 months. Following the win, Khan has reportedly renamed the group simply as the Millionaires.
Under the terms of their agreement, the Dh30 million prize will be divided equally, providing each of the five friends with Dh6 million, or roughly $1.64 million. Two of the syndicate members, Sandeep BK and Shishir Paudel, joined Khan at the UAE Lottery offices to confirm the victory. Khan emphasized that the win serves as a significant opportunity for all members of the group to pursue new life paths and achieve greater financial stability.
Future Plans and Responsible Participation
For Khan, the immediate priority is to fulfill a long-standing goal of building a home for his family in his home district of Gorkha, Nepal. Having spent four years in the workforce, he intends to resign from his position as a security guard to explore potential business ventures and investment opportunities. While he plans to manage his newfound wealth with caution, he has also earmarked funds for personal purchases, specifically mentioning a Mahindra Thar SUV and a Rolex watch.
The win marks the first time the jackpot has been claimed under the UAE Lottery’s new format, which was introduced in April 2026. The current system requires participants to select six numbers from a calendar-style grid of 1 to 31, alongside one additional number from 1 to 12. Reflecting on his experience, Khan encouraged other participants to approach lottery games responsibly, advising them to play only within their financial means and to avoid letting the pursuit of prizes interfere with their daily living expenses.
