For Mohammed Rizwan CK, a 36-year-old Indian expatriate residing in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, winning a portion of the Dh25 million Big Ticket jackpot has been a joyous event. However, he has no immediate plans to spend the money. His sole decision is clear: he will not touch his share for at least a decade.
Originally from Kochi, Kerala, Rizwan works as a health and safety officer on oil rigs in Al Khobar. He was among the 16 contributors to the winning Big Ticket purchased by his colleague Rajan. While many winners dream of buying new homes, cars, or traveling, Rizwan has no such intentions. To him, the winnings represent a retirement fund.
“I won’t use this money for daily expenses,” he stated. “I want to invest it wisely in Abu Dhabi, in Saudi Arabia, and other places where it can grow. This is for my future. I intend not to touch it for at least 10 years.”
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Rizwan has been buying Big Tickets since 2016, initially with a different group of colleagues. In 2022, after joining the same company as Rajan, he became part of the current group participating in the raffle. Over time, the group solidified with 16 dedicated members. “Many joined and left along the way,” he mentioned. “But 16 of us remained together.”
He discovered the win while shopping with his wife and son. “I suddenly received about 60 messages in our WhatsApp group. I thought something serious had occurred,” he explained. “Upon checking, I saw someone had shared a video of the live draw. We watched it repeatedly in disbelief.”
The win has left the entire group in awe. “We haven’t celebrated yet because many of us are working offshore, but we will soon. Everyone is still in shock,” he noted.
With his parents in India and his young family in Saudi Arabia, Rizwan views the prize as a means to ensure long-term security. “This money isn’t for immediate spending. It’s for the future, for retirement, and for my family’s safety.”
