Indian expat student, 18, Emirati, 55, win $1m each in Dubai Duty Free raffle

Dubai: An 18-year-old Indian expat student and a 55-year-old Emirati father of four from Al Ain were announced as the latest lucky winners of $1million Dubai Duty Free (DDF) Millennium Millionaire raffles on Wednesday.

Wayne Nash D’Souza, an Indian national born and raised in Dubai, won in Series 510 with ticket number 4463.

The ticket was purchased on July 26 in Concourse A before he flew to Los Angeles with his family, where he is now set to begin university life. He will be studying aerospace engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Speaking from Los Angeles, Wayne expressed his excitement. “Thank you so much, Dubai Duty Free. I will definitely put this money to good use,” he was quoted as saying to the representatives of DDF.

When asked about his plans for the prize money, he turned to his father and responded, “It will go toward me and my sister’s education, and some of it will be used to buy property or invest in Dubai.”

With family roots in Mumbai, Wayne is a frequent traveller, journeying with his family three to four times a year. Without fail, they always purchase tickets for the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire promotion.

Wayne is the 255th Indian national to win US$1 million through the draw since its launch in 1999, according to DDF.

Joining him in the millionaires’ circle was Mansour Al Hashemi, a 55-year-old Emirati from Al Ain, who took home the same prize in Series 511 with ticket number 0548. He bought his winning ticket on July 27 at Concourse B before travelling to Bahrain.

A father of four and regular participant in the promotion for a decade, Mansour shared his gratitude: “Thank you, Dubai Duty Free! I’m very happy to have won in your amazing promotion,” he was quoted as saying.

He is the 17th Emirati national to win the coveted million-dollar prize.