Good house, Mahindra Thar, Rolex and more — Here’s what the 26-year-old security guard plans to do with the UAE lottery money | Today’s news
For the past four years, 26-year-old Tayab Khan has been working security shifts in Abu Dhabi and dreaming of the better things in life. Now that he has struck gold, those dreams are closer to reality.
After reaching a massive Dh30 million (approx ₹78 million) jackpot in the UAE’s Lucky Day lottery, a young ex-pat from Nepal already has his ultimate wish list locked down: a dream home for his family, a rugged Mahindra Thar jeep and a luxury Rolex watch.
Leave security task for “next level”
“I have been working as an employee for four years. Now I want to take it to the next level,” a jubilant Khan said, according to a Gulf News report.
With life-changing wealth now secured, Khan revealed that he is officially leaving the security industry to focus on business and property.
“I will not continue in the same role. It is time to move on and explore new directions. I am interested in real estate and may invest in an apartment in Dubai,” he said. “I have seen many Nepalis who have succeeded in business and investment here in the UAE and I would like to follow this path.”
Tayyab Khan’s Wish List
While his personal wish list includes a Mahindra Thar and a luxury Rolex watch, items he has been eyeing for years. “I was looking at a Mahindra Thar jeep and a Rolex watch,” he said.
But Khan’s top priority is securing his family’s future at home.
“My first goal was always to buy a good house for my family,” he said. “Now I can build a proper house in a good location with everything a family needs.”
5 friends, 1 winning ticket
Khan’s sudden rise to multimillionaire status is the result of a regular habit shared among a tight-knit group of five friends. Since Khan discovered the lottery while browsing Facebook in early 2024, the group pooled their money to play every week.
According to Gulf News, each friend contributed only Dh50 (approx. ₹1,100) to buy a ticket that ended up fetching a staggering Dh30 million (around ₹78 million) jackpot.
Splitting the prize equally, Khan’s individual share comes to a whopping Dh6 million (approx ₹15 million).
“There are five of us in total. We collected money and bought tickets regularly,” Khan explained. “One person took turns picking the numbers each week. There were times when it looked like it wasn’t going to happen, but we never gave up hope.”
The night shift email that changes life
The historic victory occurred on May 27, when Khan was working the night shift during the Eid al-Adha holiday. Because he was on duty, he missed the live draw completely, only discovering his luck while routinely checking his inbox.
“I had received similar emails before for small prizes, so I didn’t think much of it,” Khan recalled. “But when I opened the email and saw Dh30 million, my hands were shaking, my legs were shaking. It felt like a dream.”
The first person he called was his uncle, the man who had helped him migrate to the UAE years ago. The emotional weight of the moment hit immediately.
“That’s why I came here in the first place,” Khan said. “When I told him how much we won, he was completely speechless and had tears rolling down his face.
