Indian expat wins $1 million in Dubai Duty Free draw

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

An Indian national based in Abu Dhabi was announced as the latest $1 million winner in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire draw held on Wednesday at Concourse C of Dubai International Airport.

Riyas Kamaluddin, a 50 year old Indian national based in Abu Dhabi, became the latest $1 million winner in Millennium Millionaire Series 391 with ticket number 4330, which he purchased online on 27th^h May.

A regular participant in Dubai Duty Free's promotion for 15 years now, Kamaluddin shared the ticket cost with six of his colleagues and friends.

An Abu Dhabi resident for 25 years, Kamaluddin is a father of two and works for an aviation company.

“We’ve been trying our luck for the last 15 years, finally we’ve won! Thank you, God, and thank you Dubai Duty Free!”

Kamaluddin is the 191st Indian national to have won $1 million since the start of the Millennium Millionaire promotion in 1999. Indian nationals make up the highest number of Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire ticket buyers.

Millennium Millionaire draw was conducted by Dubai Duty Free's Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, Colm McLoughlin, Salah Tahlak, Executive Vice President – Corporate Service, Sinead El Sibai, SVP – Marketing and Michael Schmidt, SVP – Retail.

Following the Millennium Millionaire draw, the Finest Surprise draw was conducted for three luxury vehicles.

Mohamed Askouri, a 36 year old Algerian national based in Dubai won a Bentley Flying Spur V8 (Onyx) car, with ticket number 0887 in Finest Surprise Series 1806, which he purchased online on 18th May.

A regular participant in the Dubai Duty Free promotion since 2020, Askouri had bought three tickets for Series 1806 and was delighted to learn of his win.

The soon to be father of two, Askouri works as a senior sales manager for a private company in Dubai Airport Free Zone.

“Thank you Dubai Duty Free for this amazing win! I can’t believe that I won my dream car.”

Meanwhile, Ehsan Nazeer, a Pakistani national in the UAE won a BMW F 900 XR (Black Storm Metallic) motorbike, with ticket number 0133 in Finest Surprise Series 499, which he purchased online on 11th May.

Nazeer is currently uncontactable, but will no doubt be surprised when he learns of his win.

Lastly, Mahmoud Al Qedra, a Palestinian national based in Dubai won a BMW F 850 GS (Triple Black) motorbike, with ticket number 0066 in Finest Surprise Series 500, which he purchased on 23rd May.

Al Qedra was also not available for immediate comment.