Three Heartwarming Stories of People in the UAE Who Won the World’s First Halal Lottery
Three expats just one AED 1,000,000 in the Emirates Loto; each of them will be going home with AED 333,333, and stated that the timing couldn’t have been better in this critical phase! The Emirates Loto is the GCC’s first-ever digital collectible scheme and optional draw works in line with UAE government initiatives in its drive to give back to the community and the country as a whole.
The Emirates Loto is the only Halal lottery out there, and they have the official Fatwa issued by the General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments in Abu Dhabi on their website!
The winners are the 33-year old Filipina expat, Claire Anthonette Ocaya, who works for Sharjah Duty-Free, 30-year old Indian expat, Fauzan Deshmukh, who works as a sales manager for a freight forwarding company, and a 66-year old woman from Pakistan that did not wish to be identified.
“I may start a business and save a good chunk of my win for my child’s future education. I am waiting for flights to reopen. I will make the decision to quit and go home after a few months. The number was picked by my son, he is lucky for me. I feel blessed and have so much gratitude for the win,” said Ocaya. She also plans to help some UAE-based work colleagues who are financially in need and a senior citizen back home in the Philippines.
“I was getting worried about how I would settle my debt. This has come to me like a blessing. I am still in shock, I just can’t believe my luck. When I was told over the phone that I had won, I nearly cried in disbelief. I am so thankful that I have been helped and I can’t wait to help others once I have made some arrangements,” said Deshmukh.
The Pakistani woman is visiting her son in Ajman and has been staying in the UAE following flight cancellations. She told the organizers that she wants to use her winnings to support her family, in particular her daughter who has four children and tragically lost her husband a few years ago.
