UAE lottery winner Anilkumar Bolla buys Abu Dhabi villa and plans AI startup

Anilkumar Bolla, the first individual to win the UAE Lottery’s Dh100 million jackpot, has revealed he is transitioning from an IT professional to a real estate investor and aspiring tech founder one year after his historic win on 18 October 2025. Shift to real estate and AI In a detailed update on Wednesday, 4 November, the 30-year-old Indian national confirmed he has left his previous role as an IT professional to focus on a "career break" and business research. Bolla, originally from Telangana, India, has significantly expanded his investment portfolio, acquiring a villa in Abu Dhabi’s Bloom Living community near the airport and a two-bedroom apartment near Dubai Marina, which is scheduled for completion in April 2027. Beyond the UAE, Bolla has purchased multiple metropolitan properties and agricultural land in India, alongside an off-plan beachfront property expected to be delivered in 2030. He confirmed he has applied for a UAE Golden Visa and intends to remain in the country for at least the next decade to establish a multinational artificial intelligence (AI) company. Managing wealth and family goals The winner identified managing social expectations as his primary challenge since the windfall. Despite his wealth, Bolla noted that his father refused to move from his original home in India. Instead, Bolla purchased farmland for his father to pursue organic farming and gold jewellery for his mother. His personal objectives for the next five years include marriage —…