What the UAE Lottery is, and how it got here
For most of the country’s history, the UAE did not run a national lottery. Private prize draws filled the gap — Mahzooz, Emirates Draw, Big Ticket, Lucky Day Draw (a different product) — and operated in a legal grey area. The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) was established by federal decree in September 2023 and made the regularisation of the lottery sector its first major file. In July 2024 the GCGRA awarded the country’s sole national lottery licence to The Game LLC, a wholly Abu Dhabi-incorporated subsidiary of Momentum, an integrated gaming-tech holding. Mahzooz and Emirates Draw failed in their licence bids and had their lottery sales suspended on 1 January 2025 by regulatory order. Big Ticket and certain charity prize draws survive under separate authorisations but do not function as a national lottery.
The Game LLC launched the “UAE Lottery” brand and its flagship Lucky Day draw in December 2024. By June 2026, eighteen months later, it had paid out the AED 100,000,000 maximum jackpot once (to a Filipino expat in Dubai, October 2025) and the AED 30,000,000 starter jackpot once (to a Nepalese player, June 2026), plus tens of thousands of smaller prizes. Total prizes awarded in the first twelve months exceeded USD 40 million.
Products on offer
The UAE Lottery currently sells two distinct product lines, both on theuaelottery.ae:
- Lucky Day draw — the headline rolling-jackpot draw, AED 50 per ticket, bi-weekly draws on Saturday evenings.
- Scratch cards — instant-win cards from AED 5 to AED 50, with prize structures and odds disclosed per product.
A third product line (mobile-app instant games) is being trialled in soft launch as of mid-2026 but is not yet a generally available consumer offering.
Lucky Day — how the draw works
A Lucky Day ticket costs د.إ 50 and contains two number sets:
- Six “day” numbers drawn from a 49-ball pool (the numbers reference dates of the month, hence the “day” framing).
- One “month” number drawn from a 12-ball pool (referencing the months of the year).
You can either let the system auto-generate your numbers (quick pick) or choose them yourself. The full prize structure is published below; only one set of numbers per ticket, no boosters or multipliers, no second-chance draws.
Draw schedule and sales window
Lucky Day draws happen every second Saturday at 8:30 pm UAE time (UTC+4). Sales close at 7:00 pm on draw day for that draw, and reopen at approximately 10:00 pm the same evening for the next draw. The schedule has been stable since mid-2025; check the operator’s site for the next draw date and time before you buy, as occasional public-holiday adjustments do happen.
Prize tiers
Lucky Day pays prizes across five tiers, with the headline jackpot rolling up if it isn’t won. The structure is:
| Tier | Match | Prize | Odds |
|---|
| Jackpot | 6 day numbers + month | د.إ 100,000,000 | 1 in 8,835,372 |
| Second | 6 day numbers | د.إ 1,000,000 | 1 in 803,216 |
| Third | 5 day numbers + month | د.إ 100,000 | 1 in 58,902 |
| Fourth | 5 day numbers, or 4 + month | د.إ 1,000 | 1 in 1,437 |
| Fifth | 4 day numbers, or 3 + month | د.إ 100 | 1 in 12.1 |
The jackpot starts each cycle at AED 30 million and rolls up to a maximum cap of AED 100 million.
Odds & real expected value
The fifth-prize odds (1 in 12.1) are the headline number every regular ticket buyer should internalise: roughly one in twelve tickets pays back AED 100, which is double the AED 50 ticket price. The fourth tier and above are much rarer. Overall expected value remains negative — this is a state-licensed lottery, not a positive-EV game — but Lucky Day is structurally better-value than most US-style national lotteries on per-ticket prize density. Treat any ticket spend as entertainment cost, and read our responsible-gaming resources before you play.
Major wins to date
The UAE Lottery has paid two jackpot-tier wins to date:
- 18 October 2025: first AED 100 million cap hit. Winner was a Filipino expat working in Dubai, reported in Khaleej Times.
- 2 June 2026: AED 30 million starter-tier jackpot, won by a Nepalese player resident in the UAE, reported in The Filipino Times.
Lower-tier wins occur multiple times per draw and are published in the operator’s public results archive at theuaelottery.ae.
Scratch cards
Scratch cards are sold as standalone instant-win products from AED 5 to AED 50 in nominal price. Each card has a self-contained prize structure (declared on the card and on the product page). The full catalogue rotates — not every card is available year-round — and prize structures vary, with top instant prizes typically in the AED 50,000–AED 500,000 range for higher-tier cards.
Scratch cards on the UAE Lottery platform are digital. You buy them through theuaelottery.ae, “scratch” them in the in-browser interface (which simulates the physical reveal), and any prize credits to your account balance immediately. There is no paper-card equivalent at present, though the Retail Express programme rolling out through fuel stations is testing in-person purchase of digital cards via voucher code.
How much is a UAE Lottery ticket?
A UAE Lottery Lucky Day ticket costs د.إ 50. Scratch cards range from AED 5 to AED 50 depending on the product. Tickets are sold only online at theuaelottery.ae after Emirates ID verification, and the price is the same whether you buy in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or any other emirate — there is no separate Dubai lottery ticket price. Multi-draw subscriptions lock in the same AED 50 per draw.
How to play — step by step
- Visit theuaelottery.ae on your phone or desktop. The site is bilingual (English and Arabic) and works on mobile browsers without an app, though there are operator-published apps for iOS and Android.
- Create an account. Provide your full name, mobile number, email, and a strong password. You’ll receive an OTP for mobile verification.
- Complete Emirates ID verification. Upload a photo of your Emirates ID, both sides, and confirm your details match. The operator uses automated optical character recognition against the federal ID register; verification typically completes within minutes. Passports and other ID documents are not accepted — Emirates ID is mandatory.
- Confirm you are 21+. The minimum legal age for any GCGRA-licensed gaming product. The operator cross-checks the Emirates ID birthdate against this requirement.
- Add a payment method. UAE-issued debit and credit cards in the account holder’s own name work directly — the operator’s licensed AED rails sidestep the usual payment/MCC 7995 rules. UAE bank transfer is also supported.
- Set a deposit limit (recommended). Even if you only ever plan to buy a single ticket, set a deposit limit at account creation. This is a free responsible-gaming control that costs nothing and prevents impulse top-ups later.
- Buy your ticket(s). You can buy a single Lucky Day ticket, a multi-draw subscription (which auto-enters you for multiple consecutive draws), or scratch cards by denomination. Confirm the draw date before purchase.
- Wait for the draw. Lucky Day results post live on the operator’s site and on your account dashboard at 8:30 pm Saturday. Lower-tier prizes credit automatically.
The official UAE Lottery app (iOS & Android)
The Game LLC publishes official UAE Lottery apps for iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play). The app mirrors theuaelottery.ae: you register, verify your Emirates ID, buy Lucky Day tickets and scratch cards, and view results and your account balance. Only download the app published by The Game LLC — several look-alike “UAE lottery” apps are not the licensed operator. The mobile website works without any app if you prefer not to install one.
Buying from abroad or as a tourist — what’s allowed
You must be physically inside the UAE with a valid Emirates ID to buy tickets and to claim prizes. The platform geo-blocks foreign access and detects VPNs, so you cannot buy the UAE Lottery from India, the Philippines or any other country. Tourists generally do not hold an Emirates ID and so cannot play; the operator’s position is that the UAE Lottery is for UAE residents only. See our guide on why VPN use is detected and risky in the UAE.
Latest UAE Lottery results & winning numbers
Lucky Day is drawn every second Saturday at 8:30 pm UAE time (UTC+4). The winning combination is six “day” numbers (1–49) plus one “month” number (1–12). Official winning numbers and the full per-tier breakdown are published immediately after each draw in the operator’s results archive at theuaelottery.ae and on your account dashboard; lower-tier prizes credit automatically. Because results change every fortnight, always confirm the latest winning numbers and the next draw date against the operator’s live site before you buy — we re-verify this page at least every 90 days.
UAE Lottery winners — latest & biggest
The UAE Lottery has paid two jackpot-tier wins to date, alongside tens of thousands of smaller prizes each draw:
| Date | Prize | Winner | Source |
|---|
| 18 Oct 2025 | د.إ 100,000,000 (jackpot cap) | Filipino expat in Dubai | Khaleej Times |
| 2 Jun 2026 | د.إ 30,000,000 (starter tier) | Nepalese resident in the UAE | The Filipino Times |
Lower-tier wins occur multiple times per draw and are published in the operator’s public results archive at theuaelottery.ae. Winners of large prizes may choose to remain anonymous in press coverage.
KYC, identity verification, and security
The UAE Lottery operates under GCGRA-mandated identity-verification standards that are tighter than most international lottery operators. Specifically:
- Emirates ID is exclusive. No passports, no driving licences, no foreign national IDs. This is a deliberate choice that ties every account to the federal identity register and prevents account multi-creation.
- One account per Emirates ID. The platform enforces this technically. Sharing accounts is a terms-of-service violation that voids prize entitlement.
- Payment cards must be in the player’s own name. Third-party cards (a friend’s, a relative’s, an employer’s) are not accepted. Bank transfers must come from a bank account in the same name as the player.
- Geolocation. You must be physically inside the UAE when buying tickets and when claiming prizes. VPN use is detected and blocked.
- Self-exclusion. If you self-exclude, the operator must hold the exclusion for a minimum of six months. You cannot rescind early.
Prize collection — small and large wins
Prizes up to AED 5,000 credit automatically to your account balance and can be withdrawn to your linked UAE bank account or card. Withdrawal processing typically completes within 1–3 business days.
Prizes above AED 5,000 require a formal claim, which involves visiting The Game LLC’s Abu Dhabi office in person with your original Emirates ID, the winning ticket reference, and any additional documentation the operator requests. For jackpot-tier wins, the operator runs additional anti-fraud verification (the AED 100 million October 2025 win took approximately three weeks to process from draw to payment) and offers winners the option of remaining anonymous in press coverage.
Tax treatment of winnings
The UAE imposes no personal income tax on residents, and lottery winnings paid by The Game LLC are not subject to UAE income tax. For Emirati citizens and most UAE residents this means you receive your prize gross of UAE tax.
Foreign tax residents have separate obligations:
- United States tax residents must report worldwide gambling winnings on Form 1040 and pay US federal income tax at marginal rates. There is no US-UAE tax treaty that exempts gambling winnings.
- Indian tax residents have a flat 30% TDS withholding obligation on lottery and prize winnings under Section 194B of the Income Tax Act. Even though the prize is paid in the UAE and not withheld at source by the UAE operator, the Indian resident has a self-declaration and tax-payment obligation on return to India.
- UK tax residents generally pay no UK tax on lottery winnings.
- Other jurisdictions vary. Check with a qualified tax adviser in your home country before claiming a large prize.
Responsible gaming on the UAE Lottery
The Game LLC implements the GCGRA-mandated responsible-gaming stack:
- Deposit limits (daily, weekly, monthly), set by the player.
- Time-outs (24 hours to several weeks), self-applied.
- Self-exclusion, six-month minimum.
- Reality-check prompts during longer sessions.
- Referral to Takalam, the UAE’s mental-health counselling service, with direct in-account links.
If you or someone close to you is harmed by lottery play, see our responsible-gaming resources.
Frequently asked questions
Which lottery is legal in the UAE?
The UAE Lottery, operated by The Game LLC, is the only GCGRA-licensed national lottery. Mahzooz and Emirates Draw lost their licence bids and had lottery sales suspended on 1 January 2025. See our GCGRA Explained guide and UAE gambling law overview.
How to play The UAE Lottery?
Visit theuaelottery.ae, create an account, verify your Emirates ID, confirm you are 21+, add a UAE payment card in your own name, set a deposit limit, then buy a Lucky Day ticket or scratch card. You must be physically in the UAE.
How much does a Dubai lottery ticket cost?
There is no separate Dubai lottery. Players in Dubai buy the nationwide UAE Lottery: a Lucky Day ticket costs AED 50, and scratch cards range from AED 5 to AED 50.
Can I buy The UAE Lottery from India?
No. You must be physically inside the UAE with a valid Emirates ID. The platform geo-blocks foreign access and detects VPNs, so you cannot buy tickets from India or any country outside the UAE.
Is there a Dubai lottery?
No. There is no separate Dubai lottery. The UAE Lottery is nationwide and the only GCGRA-licensed draw — residents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi play the same Lucky Day draw at the same AED 50 price.
Is the UAE Lottery legal?
Yes. The UAE Lottery is operated by The Game LLC under a Lottery licence issued by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) in July 2024. It is the first and currently the only GCGRA-licensed national lottery in the UAE.
What about Mahzooz and Emirates Draw?
Both Mahzooz and Emirates Draw competed for the GCGRA lottery licence and lost. Their lottery sales were suspended by regulatory order on 1 January 2025. They are no longer licensed operators. Mahzooz has pivoted to other commercial activity; Emirates Draw exited the market.
How do I buy tickets?
Online via theuaelottery.ae after creating an account and verifying with Emirates ID. Physical retail sales began in 2026 through three Dubai fuel stations as part of the Retail Express initiative and are expanding.
Can I buy a ticket without Emirates ID?
No. Emirates ID is mandatory and exclusive — passports and other national IDs are not accepted. This is a GCGRA requirement and applies to every licensed operator in the UAE.
Are winnings taxed?
The UAE has no personal income tax. Lottery winnings paid by The Game LLC are not subject to UAE income tax. Foreign tax residents should check their home country’s rules — US, India and others may impose tax on UAE-source lottery winnings.
What if I’m a tourist?
You must be physically in the UAE to buy and claim. Tourists generally need Emirates ID, which they do not have, so most tourist players are not eligible. The operator’s position is that the UAE Lottery is for UAE residents only.
Is there a subscription option?
Yes. You can buy multi-draw subscriptions that auto-enter your selected numbers across multiple consecutive Lucky Day draws. The subscription locks in the ticket price at AED 50 per draw.
What’s the difference between Lucky Day and the older Mahzooz draws?
The headline structures are similar (six numbers plus a bonus) but they are entirely separate operators. Mahzooz lost its licence in 2025; the current Lucky Day is a fresh product from The Game LLC under GCGRA licence.
Can I play from outside the UAE?
No. The platform geo-restricts to UAE territory. VPN use is detected and account access blocked.
How long do I have to claim a prize?
Standard claim window is 180 days from the draw date for prizes above AED 5,000. Smaller prizes credit automatically and don’t require an active claim, though they remain in your balance subject to the operator’s dormant-account policy.
Verification & sources
This page was last verified on 2 July 2026. Sources: GCGRA licensee register (gcgra.gov.ae); theuaelottery.ae operator pages; Khaleej Times coverage of the October 2025 jackpot win; The Filipino Times coverage of the June 2026 AED 30M win; cross-checks against UAE federal gazette publications of Decree-Laws 31/2021, 34/2021 and 25/2025. Ticket prices, prize tiers and draw schedules can change — verify against the operator’s live site before purchase. Our quarterly review cycle re-verifies this page at minimum every 90 days.
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By Khalid Al Mansoori · Last verified 
