The UAE’s prize-draw landscape changed considerably in 2024, and a lot of what’s written about it online is now out of date. This page explains what’s actually operating, how the legal structure works, and where to check the current status yourself. It’s informational — not a recommendation to take part.
Read this first
Only one regulator makes something legal here
UAE law generally prohibits gambling. The prize draws that legally operate do so as licensed exceptions, regulated by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). The GCGRA has explicitly cautioned residents against unlicensed lottery and gaming operators, citing real risk of financial loss, fraud and data theft. If an operator isn’t GCGRA-licensed, that matters more than how established or well-advertised it looks.
What happened to Mahzooz, Emirates Draw and Big Ticket
If you remember these names from a few years ago and are wondering why they’ve gone quiet: Mahzooz and Emirates Draw both paused operations in January 2024, and Big Ticket Abu Dhabi followed with its own pause from April 2024, each citing new GCGRA directives. None of the three has confirmed a full relaunch as of this writing. Older articles and social posts describing how to play them are likely describing a service that isn’t currently running — check the operator’s own site directly before assuming any of these are active.
What’s currently operating: the UAE Lottery
The UAE Lottery, operated by The Game LLC and GCGRA-licensed since July 2024, launched in December 2024 as the country’s first officially licensed, government-regulated numbers-based lottery — a different format from the older raffle-style draws, closer to lottery formats familiar from the UK, US or Europe. It offers several game types (including pick-number and instant-win formats), and draws have run on a regular weekly schedule with reported jackpots including a headline Dh100 million prize and multiple Dh30 million wins since launch.
Participation requires a valid UAE identity document and an account with the operator directly — confirm current age and eligibility requirements, ticket pricing and the live draw schedule on the operator’s own platform, since these details are revised periodically.
Other names you’ll still see referenced
- Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire — a long-running bi-monthly draw tied to Dubai Duty Free, historically one of the most established prize promotions in the UAE
- Big Ticket Abu Dhabi — operating since 1992 prior to its 2024 pause; check current status before treating it as active
- TrueWin — reported as a second GCGRA-licensed online gaming platform alongside the UAE Lottery
- Bank-linked prize draws — several UAE banks run their own periodic millionaire-style draws tied to savings or investment accounts, structured differently from the standalone lottery operators above
Given how much this landscape has shifted since 2024, treat any specific operating status, draw schedule or prize figure you read — including on this page — as something to reconfirm on the operator’s own site before acting on it.
A word on how these are legal at all
Licensed UAE draws typically work by selling a product or entry ticket rather than framing the transaction as a wager — historically a bottle of water, a collectable card, or a direct ticket purchase, with the draw entry attached to that purchase. This structure, combined with direct GCGRA licensing, is what distinguishes a legal UAE prize draw from prohibited gambling. It’s a legal and regulatory distinction, not a guarantee about odds or value — draw structures, odds and prize tiers are set by each operator and are worth reading carefully rather than assumed.
Common questions
Is Mahzooz coming back?
As of this writing, no confirmed relaunch date has been announced. Its pause has now run well beyond the “temporary” framing originally used in January 2024. Check the operator’s own channels for any update rather than relying on older articles that assume it’s active.
Are online “UAE lottery” sites I’ve seen advertised legitimate?
Only if GCGRA-licensed. The regulator has specifically warned about unlicensed operators risking fraud and data theft. Verify licensing directly rather than assuming a professional-looking website means it’s authorised.
Do I need to be a UAE resident to enter?
Requirements vary by operator and have changed as the regulatory landscape shifted — the UAE Lottery has been described as open to residents of any nationality holding valid UAE identification. Confirm current eligibility directly with whichever operator you’re considering.
Published 29 August 2026. This page is informational only, describing the legal and regulatory structure of UAE prize draws — it is not a recommendation to participate, and we do not publish individual draw results, ticket links or purchase guidance. Operator status, draw schedules and prize structures change; confirm current details directly with the GCGRA or the specific operator before relying on anything above.
Related Guides
- UAE Glossary — acronyms and terms explained, including regulatory bodies
- Money Saving Guide — where your budget actually goes, and what moves the needle
- UAE Updates — every rule and regulatory change we track