A Pakistani man has won a life-changing Dh15 million grand prize in the UAE’s Big Ticket Series 290 draw, turning an ordinary lottery entry into a massive financial windfall. The winner, Shaukat Aftab, won the top prize with ticket number 245556 during the live draw held in Abu Dhabi. The prize is worth approximately Rs1.14 billion when converted into Pakistani currency. The news has attracted widespread attention in Pakistan and among Pakistani communities in the Gulf, particularly because the prize is equivalent to more than one billion Pakistani rupees. Aftab was initially unsure whether the phone call informing him about his win was genuine. After checking the live draw on YouTube, he confirmed that his ticket had actually won the grand prize. Who Is Shaukat Aftab? Shaukat Aftab is a Pakistani businessman who became the latest major winner of the Big Ticket draw in Abu Dhabi. According to Gulf media reports, Aftab is 64 years old and has known about the Big Ticket for many years. He reportedly first heard about it around 15 years ago and continued participating over the years. Unlike some participants who purchase tickets as part of a group, the winning ticket in this draw was purchased by Aftab himself. His long participation eventually resulted in one of the biggest financial prizes of his life. The winning ticket number was 245556, which was selected during the Big Ticket Series 290 live draw. How Much Money Did the Pakistani Man Win? Shaukat Aftab won Dh15 million as the grand prize. At the time of reporting, the amount was approximately equivalent to Rs1.14 billion in Pakistani currency. The exact rupee value can change because exchange rates fluctuate between the UAE dirham and Pakistani rupee. For someone living in Pakistan, Rs1.14 billion is an enormous amount of money. To put the figure into perspective, one billion rupees is equal to 100 crore rupees. Therefore, Rs1.14 billion is approximately 114 crore rupees. This is why reports describing Aftab as an “overnight billionaire” attracted so much attention. However, technically, his prize was awarded in UAE dirhams rather than Pakistani rupees. The billion-rupee figure is a conversion of the Dh15 million prize into Pakistani currency. What Was the Winning Ticket Number? The winning ticket number was: 245556 The number was selected during the live Big Ticket draw in Abu Dhabi. Interestingly, the winning ticket was picked by Reynaldo Herboso, a Filipino participant who had won the Dh20 million grand prize in the previous month’s draw. This added another interesting element to the story because a previous winner was involved in selecting the ticket that made Aftab the latest grand-prize winner. How Did Shaukat Aftab Find Out He Had Won? Aftab’s reaction to the winning phone call was one of the most memorable parts of the story. Big Ticket representatives contacted him by phone after the draw and informed him that he had won the Dh15 million grand prize. However, Aftab initially struggled to believe the news. He was concerned that the call could be a scam or spam call, which is understandable given the number of fraudulent calls people receive every day. The Big Ticket hosts encouraged him to verify the result through the official live draw. Aftab later checked the draw on YouTube and confirmed that ticket number 245556 was indeed his winning ticket. After realizing that he had genuinely won, he expressed his happiness and gratitude. His reaction shows how difficult it can be to immediately believe such unexpected news, particularly when the prize is worth millions of dirhams. Why the Win Is Significant for Pakistanis Big prize wins by Pakistani nationals in the UAE often attract significant attention in Pakistan because millions of Pakistanis live and work across the Gulf region. The UAE is home to a large Pakistani expatriate community, with many Pakistanis working in sectors ranging from construction and retail to business, finance, technology and professional services. A major prize won by a Pakistani national therefore quickly becomes a popular story on Pakistani social media and news websites. Aftab’s Dh15 million win is particularly notable because the converted amount is more than Rs1 billion. For many Pakistani readers, the story is not simply about a lottery win. It also raises curiosity about the winner, the Big Ticket draw, the winning ticket and what someone might do after receiving such a large amount of money. Other Major Winners in the Same Draw Shaukat Aftab was not the only person to win a major prize during Series 290. An Indian expatriate living in Dubai, Ravindranathan Vinesh, won a brand-new Land Rover Defender through the Dream Car series. His winning ticket number was 035787. Five other participants won Dh100,000 each. The winners included participants from India and Bangladesh. The draw also included the Big Spin, which produced additional cash winners. These prizes included Dh50,000, Dh500,000 and Dh150,000. This means the Series 290 draw created several winners rather than only one person taking home a prize. What Is the UAE Big Ticket? Big Ticket is a well-known prize draw held in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The draw offers participants opportunities to win large cash prizes and other rewards, including luxury vehicles. The main attraction is the grand prize, which can reach millions of UAE dirhams. Big Ticket also features different promotions and prize categories, giving participants opportunities to win cash and other prizes. Aftab won the grand prize during Series 290. The live draw format also allows people to follow the results and see winning numbers announced publicly. Why Did Aftab Think the Call Could Be a Scam? Aftab’s initial reaction is particularly relevant in today’s digital environment. Scammers frequently use fake prize announcements to convince people that they have won money. They may then ask victims to provide personal information, pay a fee or send money before supposedly receiving their prize. Because of this, people should always verify unexpected prize notifications through the official organization involved. In Aftab’s case, the Big Ticket hosts themselves recognized his concern and advised him