ABU DHABI: Fortune smiled upon Shanthanu Shettigar, an Indian expatriate from Udyavar in Udupi, as he was crowned the grand prize winner of the Abu Dhabi Big Ticket Series 283 draw held on February 4. Shettigar won a life-changing Dh20 million (approx. ₹45 crore).

The Winning Moment: Working in the retail sector in Oman, Shettigar’s winning ticket number 305810 was picked during the live broadcast of UAE’s longest-running raffle. The announcement drew global viewership, but it was the Udupi man who walked away with the Dh20 million windfall.

A Shared Fortune: In a phone call following the live draw, a stunned Shettigar admitted he was overwhelmed and hadn’t yet planned how to spend the massive prize money. He also revealed a heartwarming detail: he had purchased the ticket jointly with a friend, with whom he intends to share the winnings equally.

This win marks another major jackpot for the Indian expat community in the Gulf, solidifying the Big Ticket’s reputation as a “maker of millionaires.”