Indian expat Vibin Vasudevan and his gym group in Dubai win a 250g 24K gold bar in the Big Ticket weekly draw, celebrating teamwork, friendship, and luck.
In a heartwarming story of friendship and fortune, Vibin Vasudevan, a 37-year-old Indian expat from Kerala, and his group of gym friends in Dubai struck gold — literally — by winning a 250-gram 24K gold bar in the Big Ticket weekly e-draw held in Abu Dhabi. The surprise win turned an ordinary morning into an unforgettable celebration for the fitness group that has been pooling together for tickets every month.
Vibin, who has been living in Dubai for the past 10 years, received the call that many UAE residents dream of — a congratulatory message from Big Ticket host Richard announcing that his ticket number 247824 had won the gold prize.
“Really? Oh! My God. This is the first time I am receiving this kind of a call,” Vibin exclaimed in disbelief. “I am so excited that I cannot express myself.”
For Vibin, it was a moment of pure joy after years of seeing others win through the Big Ticket draws he had been following online and at Abu Dhabi Airport.
Vibin’s Big Ticket journey didn’t start alone. A passionate fitness enthusiast, he spends most of his evenings at his local gym in Dubai — a place that became the starting point of his lucky adventure.
“About a year ago, I decided to form a group of 20 gym members, and we’ve been purchasing tickets together every month since then,” he shared proudly. “We are like a family now. This experience has brought us even closer together.”
While Vibin’s immediate family lives back in Kerala, his gym community has become his extended family in Dubai. Together, they cheer each other on through workouts, competitions, and now — life-changing luck.
The Big Ticket draws are among the UAE’s most popular raffles, giving residents and visitors the chance to win luxury cars, gold, and multimillion-dirham cash prizes. For many, it’s a monthly ritual filled with anticipation and dreams of a better tomorrow.
Vibin said that seeing Big Ticket promotions everywhere — from social media to airport banners — always inspired him to take a chance. “I think anyone living in the UAE has heard about Big Ticket. You see it all over social media, hear about it on the news, and even spot it at Abu Dhabi Airport,” he said.
This time, that decision paid off handsomely.
True to the spirit of teamwork, Vibin immediately decided that the gold prize wouldn’t be his alone. “I plan to cash in the gold and share the prize equally among my gym buddies,” he revealed. “We all bought the tickets together, and it’s only fair that we all celebrate together.”
His friends were overjoyed when they heard the news. Many of them gathered at the gym to celebrate the victory, posing for photos and calling family back home to share their excitement.
The group’s win has since become a viral story among Dubai’s fitness community, inspiring others to team up and try their luck.
Vibin’s message to fellow dreamers was simple yet heartfelt:
“Try your luck and hope for the best. You never know when it might be your day.”
His story serves as a reminder that sometimes, life’s best moments come from a mix of faith, friendship, and a little bit of luck.
As the gym group celebrates their golden win, they’ve already decided to continue their monthly Big Ticket tradition — not just for the prizes, but for the joy and camaraderie it brings them.
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