A Filipina resident of Dubai has made history as the first woman to claim a top prize from The UAE Lottery, walking away with AED 5 million from the Lucky Day Draw.
Zenn Ariane Garceles, 38, secured the second prize through a randomly generated ticket, adding her name to a growing list of expats whose lives have changed overnight in the Emirates.
According to news, Garceles used an Easy Pick option, which means the numbers on her ticket were selected automatically rather than by hand. A regular participant since the lottery’s early days, she had entered the Lucky Day Draw many times and occasionally tried other formats such as Scratch Cards.
For Garceles, the Emirates is far more than a workplace. Originally from the Philippines, she has spent the past 13 years building her life in the city. It was here that she met her husband and raised her children. A former dental assistant, she sees the win as a way to strengthen the future she has already started to create.
Her plans focus almost entirely on family. She intends to set aside funds for her children’s education, look into possible business ventures, and support her loved ones back home. One of her first calls after the win went to her father in the Philippines, whom she hopes to bring over for a visit. A long-held dream of owning a home in Dubai now feels within reach.
