Thirteen years of building a life in Dubai paid off in an extraordinary way for Zenn Ariane Garceles, who now holds the distinction of being the first woman to claim a top prize from The UAE Lottery. The 38-year-old, originally from the Philippines, secured AED 5 million in the Lucky Day Draw through an Easy Pick ticket generated from randomly assigned numbers.
The reality of the win settled in through an ordinary scroll on social media. Garceles spotted an Instagram post about someone landing AED 5 million and signed into her own account to compare the winning numbers. What appeared instead was a notification telling her the prize was hers. She called the moment “unforgettable.”
Garceles has been a regular presence in the lottery since its launch, entering Lucky Day Draws and dipping into other options such as Scratch Cards from time to time. Her decision to let the system pick her numbers randomly is what ultimately delivered the millions.
For the former dental assistant, the UAE is more than where she works. It is where her personal life took shape, from meeting her spouse to raising her children in the emirate. “My life in the UAE has been amazing. I met my husband here and built my family here,” she said.
Her plans for the money center almost entirely on the people around her. A phone call to her father back in the Philippines came early, and she hopes to bring him over for a visit to Dubai. Setting aside funds for her children’s schooling, looking into launching a business, and purchasing a vehicle for her husband are all on her list. “I can’t really think of what I would buy for myself because I’m happy knowing that I can share it with my family,” she said. “Being with them and seeing their smiles makes me happy.”
Homeownership sits at the heart of what she wants next. Garceles intends to stay in the country long-term and treat the windfall as a foundation for the years ahead. “I’ve always wanted a place for my family, and I’ve dreamed of having our own home here,” she said.
The Lucky Day Draw runs twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with a AED 30 million Grand Prize at the top of the tiers and a AED 5 million Second Prize beneath it. Every game operates under the oversight of the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, part of the lottery’s stated commitment to a regulated and transparent experience.
Garceles was direct about how she intends to handle a sum of this size, framing restraint as a principle worth holding onto. “We should all be responsible in every aspect of our lives, especially with money,” she said. “When you spend it, be wise. Do not go beyond your limit.”
