Who is Anilkumar Bolla? Abu Dhabi resident who won UAE's Dh 100 million lottery revealed

After days of suspense, the Indian man who won the first-ever Dh 100 million jackpot of the UAE Lottery was identified as Anilkumar Bolla. This was the largest prize ever awarded in the UAE.

After confirming the record-breaking prize, the UAE Lottery, which is operated by Game LLC, an Abu Dhabi-based operator licensed in July 2024, said last week that it was a "historic milestone for the UAE’s entertainment and gaming landscape".

Who is Anilkumar Bolla?

Anilkumar Bolla, who was previously identified as Anil Kumar B., is a resident of Abu Dhabi. He has been in the UAE for the past one-and-a-half years.

The 29-year-old described himself as a "loyal" participant since the lottery was launched. He won the lottery in the 23rd Lucky Day Draw #251018 on October 18, defying the odds of 1 in 8.8 million.

In order to win the jackpot, Bolla had to match all seven numbers with the draw result. He combined an Easy Pick from the 'Days set' and the number 11 from the 'Months set'. He chose 11 because November was his mother's birth month and that gesture helped him win the lottery.

"Those numbers were special to me," Khaleej Times quoted Bolla as saying. "I chose 11 for my mother. I had no idea it would become the key to this win."

The lottery win on the eve of Diwali made it even more special. "It feels like an exceptional blessing. Winning on such an auspicious occasion makes it even more meaningful," he said.

In a video posted by the UAE Lottery, Bolla said he wants to take his family to the UAE. He also wants to donate some amount to charity, which he believes will reach the needy. This he said would be core of his happiness.

When asked if he has anything else on his list, he said, "The sum will change my life forever. I plan to buy a supercar first and treat myself to a month-long stay at a seven-star hotel."

However, he said he does not intend to splurge all his money. "I will take time to carefully plan how to invest this money wisely," he added.

The live draws are held on Saturdays and only UAE residents aged above 18 are allowed to participate. Each ticket costs Dh 50.

Three of the winners took home Dh 100,000 each while 67 others bagged Dh 1,000. The Dh 100 prize was claimed by 7,067 participants.

Middle East