Lucky Indian expats win $1 million, luxury bikes in Dubai Duty Free draw

Dubai: Two Indian expats, including a resident of Ajman, have each won $1 million in the latest Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draw held at Concourse D of Dubai International Airport.

Amin Virani, a 69-year-old Indian national based in Lubumbashi, Congo, won in Millennium Millionaire Series 505 with ticket number 0864, which he purchased online on June 4.

A regular participant in Dubai Duty Free’s promotions for the past three years, he bought five tickets and is a retired father of two.

“I didn’t expect to win. Thank you so much Dubai Duty Free! This will greatly help me with my retirement plans,” he said.

Joining him is Peter D’Silva, a 45-year-old Indian resident of Ajman, who won in Millennium Millionaire Series 506 with ticket number 2593, purchased online on June 12.
A resident of Ajman since 2011, D’Silva has been a regular participant in Dubai Duty Free’s promotions since 2019. He is a father of two and works as a facility manager for an engineering company in Dubai.

“Big thanks Dubai Duty Free. It’s a dream come true, I’m very grateful for this win,” he said.

Virani and D’Silva are the 252nd and 253rd Indian nationals, respectively, to win $1 million in the Millennium Millionaire promotion since its inception in 1999, with Indian nationals by far the largest group of ticket purchasers.

Following the Millennium Millionaire draw, the Finest Surprise draw was conducted for two luxury motorbikes. Selvyno Fernandes, Terminal Operation Manager, joined in the draw proceedings.

Mohammed Ebrahim, a 53-year-old Indian expat based in Jebel Ali, won a Ducati Monster SP motorbike with ticket number 0771 in the Finest Surprise Series 627, which he purchased online on June 14.
A regular participant in the promotion for the past 10 years, Ebrahim is a father of three and works as an officer for a logistics company in Dubai.

“Thank you, Dubai Duty Free for running such promotion, it’s a big opportunity for people like me. I’m very happy for this win,” he said.

Also winning big was Rukkunu Deen, an Indian expat based in the UAE, who bagged a BMW R12 motorbike with ticket number 0823 in the Finest Surprise Series 628, purchased online on June 12. He is currently not reachable, the organisers noted.