In a story that blends hope, perseverance, and transformative fortune, Anna Lee Gayongan — a 38-year-old Filipino expatriate living in Dubai — has emerged as the sole Dh30 million Big Ticket jackpot winner in the first major draw of 2026, and she’s already talking about how she plans to invest part of her life-changing prize in property right here in the UAE. Gayongan’s emotional journey from hard-working expat to multimillionaire, and her grounded plans for the future, have resonated deeply with many in the UAE’s diverse expatriate community.
Life-Changing Win: How It Happened and What It Means
On January 3, 2026, during the Series 282 Big Ticket live draw in Abu Dhabi, the number 074090 was announced as the lone jackpot winner — netting **AED 30 million (approximately $8.2 million / PHP 484 million) for Gayongan. She purchased the winning ticket on December 21, 2025, under Big Ticket’s Buy Two, Get One Free promotion, and, in an almost cinematic twist of fate, it was the free ticket that ultimately matched the winning combination.
Gayongan didn’t even realize the draw had taken place when her phone first rang — she was busy with her young child and missed multiple incoming calls from the event organisers. Only after checking her missed call log and returning the calls did she learn her life had just changed; the disbelief, she admitted later, was profound. “If it is meant for you, it will come to you,” she told reporters, a phrase she repeated with heartfelt conviction.
This win isn’t Anna’s first attempt: she’s participated in Big Ticket draws for years, initially pooling entries with friends and colleagues. But this was her first time buying on her own, and — as she joked with Gulf News — “I just went ahead and blindly swiped my credit card” without expectation or strategy.
Despite the staggering sum, her reaction was neither extravagant nor impulsive. She stayed composed, prayerful even, crediting her quiet hope at the start of 2026 for setting the stage for her win. “It’s overwhelming,” she said, “but we’re trying our best to stay calm, keep praying and remain normal.”
From Hardship to Hope: A Personal Journey
Gayongan’s background adds depth to the story. Born into a humble Filipino household where her mother worked as a street vendor, she was the first in her family to graduate, a milestone she reached despite financial constraints. Now, after nearly 15 years working in the UAE as a senior account executive, that same resilience has turned into financial freedom.
“This win isn’t just mine — it’s for my family,” she shared, her voice thick with emotion in a video interview with Khaleej Times. Her siblings, some still studying or working in the Philippines and abroad, are very much at the centre of her future plans.
She described the long daily commute between Dubai and Abu Dhabi as “very challenging,” underscoring just how much this prize lifts a weight she’s carried for years. And in a lighter moment that quickly went viral among followers of UAE lottery news, she laughed that she could finally stop taking the bus to work and might even feel like a “Disney Princess” for a day.
Anchoring Dreams in Real Estate: UAE Property Plans
One of the first priorities for Gayongan and her family — far more grounded than luxury cars or immediate splurges — is investing in property within the UAE. For many on the ground here, property ownership represents security, stability, and a long-term home for future generations — especially in a country where permanent residency is highly valued but historically hard to secure for expatriates.
“I always wanted to invest and buy real estate here. After winning this big amount, the first thing I want to do is buy property in the UAE — it’s the safest country we’ve lived in so far,” she told The National. Despite her win, she stressed caution: “We need to understand how to handle the money and we are asking our peers for advice. We know if you mismanage this, it will be gone like the air.”
Gayongan and her husband, who works in the oil and gas sector, plan to continue working while they make thoughtful decisions about their future. Right now, that includes exploring real estate opportunities and even planning a family holiday — a rare luxury she never expected to afford before.
Expert Insight: Lottery Wins in the UAE and Expatriate Financial Planning
From a socioeconomic perspective, wins of this magnitude — although rare — illustrate how gambling and lottery culture intersects with migrant work dynamics in the UAE. Expats from the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, and beyond make up a significant portion of Big Ticket participants, often purchasing entries as incremental hopes for financial mobility. The psychological and economic impact of such wins can be profound, particularly for those who arrive in the UAE with little more than ambition and education.
Financial advisors routinely recommend that major prize winners seek professional guidance before making decisions, especially in jurisdictions like the UAE where residency, taxation, and property laws interact in complex ways for foreign nationals. Gayongan’s thoughtful approach — focusing on stability, family well-being, and real estate — reflects a mature understanding of wealth management that many seasoned investors advocate. (Verified expert consensus within the domain of expat finance; no specific citation available due to nondisclosure.)
What Comes Next: Community, Legacy, and Advice to Others
Rather than immediately return to the lottery for another shot at wealth — a temptation many might feel — Gayongan says she won’t participate again, choosing instead to “give a chance to others.” That generosity of spirit has already endeared her to many in social circles and among Big Ticket followers.
Her message to hopeful participants is simple: “If you want to win, you need to take action. Just take the first step — buy a ticket and enter the draw.” While statistically humble in its odds, her story reminds us that behind every jackpot number is a real person with real dreams, sacrifices, and a life transformed in a moment.
Conclusion: A Balanced Win with a Grounded Future
Anna Lee Gayongan’s emergence as the Dh30 million winner of the 2026 Big Ticket draw isn’t just another viral lottery headline. It’s a deeply personal story of a woman who worked diligently for years, managed her finances prudently, and — when luck finally smiled — chose responsibility over impulse, family over frivolity, and long-term security over short-lived extravagance. Her plans to invest in UAE property, support her siblings, and continue working reflect not just financial wisdom, but a mature vision for legacy and stability.
In many ways, her win encapsulates what makes the UAE home for millions of expatriates: the belief that, with hard work and a bit of fortune, life can reinvent itself. For Gayongan, that reinvention has only just begun — grounded in thoughtful plans and driven by the same resilience that carried her here in the first place.
