Emirates Loto issues refunds for paused mega lottery in the UAE

On July 18, the fatwa-approved Emirates Loto announced that it was pausing its weekly lottery draw, which at the time had a jackpot prize of Dhs50m.

Read: UAE’s Emirates Loto temporarily discontinued; will resume in Q4 2020

It said that it would initiate refunds for all those who had purchased and possessed an unused entry ticket into the draw.

On August 13, it said that all participants who purchased a collectables online after 8.30pm on Saturday July 11, 2020, have had their money refunded.

Those who purchased collectables via the website or mobile app before 8.30pm on July 11, 2020, but did not enter a draw, can submit their refund form on the Emirates Loto website.

Emirates Loto has also designated certain stores in each emirate within the UAE, except Dubai, to facilitate the refunds.

These include stores in Abu Dhabi (Metro Manila Hypermarket in Electra Street and Pinoy Manila Grocery in Defense Street); Sharjah (Metro Manila Hypermarket in Abu Shaghara Street and Metro Manila Supermarket in Al Wahda Street); Ajman (Metro Manila Hypermarket in Al Karama Area); Fujairah (Metro Manila Supermarket in Al Qala Street); Ras Al Khaimah (Gulf Hypermarket in Al Muntasir Street); and Umm Al Quwain (Bu Basheer Supermarket in Old Industrial Area).

It added that the locations in Dubai from where customers can receive their refunds will be announced soon on its website.

Participants who have scratched their collectables, and those who have won free entries into future draws, will also need to submit a refund form on the Emirates Loto website. The refund will be done through a bank transfer or in cash through any of Al Fardan Exchange branches.

The organisers have said that those who are expecting a refund either automatically or via bank transfer will receive it within 7-10 business days and that they will be notified by SMS or email too.

At the time of pausing the lottery, the lottery’s organisers said that the draw would return in Q4 2020, without specifying the date on which it will resume.