8 million dirhams in prizes claimed in first six draws of rebranded UAE lottery
January 5, 2021, 1:10 pm

8 million dirhams in prizes claimed in first six draws of rebranded UAE lottery

The UAE’s official weekly rebranded lottery, Mahzooz, has created two millionaires, with another fifteen players winning hundreds of thousands of dirhams each, from the first six draws. (Supplied: Ewings)

The UAE’s official weekly rebranded lottery, Mahzooz, has created two millionaires, with another fifteen players winning hundreds of thousands of dirhams each, from the first six draws.

That’s according to Farid Samji, the Co-CEO of the game’s operating company, Ewings.

“This is very encouraging considering the short timeframe since relaunch,” he said. “Big winners demonstrate to participants that anything is possible, and that they too, can become winners,” he said.

Speaking to Al Arabiya English, Samji said that the aim is to make ”as many millionaires as possible” in 2021, with the jackpot prize of 50 million dirhams up for grabs.

Over a four-month hiatus, lottery upgrades were installed, giving the opportunity to rebrand. Emirates Loto became Mahzooz, which means ’fortunate’ or ’lucky’ in Arabic, Samji explained. It relaunched in November.

The lottery draws take place every Saturday, and are live-streamed on a dedicated website at 9pm. The cost of entry for every game is 35 Dirhams. Winners who match six numbers stand to win the 50 million Dirhams jackpot, while those who match five numbers can claim a share of Dhs1milllion, which can increase, depending on how many players there are.

Those who match four numbers can earn a cash prize of 1,000 Dirhams, while those who match three numbers win 35 Dirhams – or a free play.

Samji said winners have included players from over 50 nationalities.

On each weekly draw, if no one claims five out of the six numbers, the money is rolled over to the next week’s draw, until a participant successfully draws five out of the six numbers.

“Wei Wei, a Chinese expat in Dubai, was the only winner to match five out of six numbers on our December 26 draw which featured a rolled-over second prize,” Samji revealed.

She won two million dirhams, the highest amount won to date.

Kevin Travers Culbert, a South African UAE resident of 19 years who recently claimed 500,000 Dirhams said: ”After National Day celebrations we had a hectic weekend, so we weren’t able to watch the live draw. I was only notified about our lucky numbers on Sunday morning, and what a fantastic surprise it was.”

source: Jennifer Bell

Levant

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.