Two Indian Groups Win $1 Million Each in Dubai Duty Free Draw
Two Indian Colleagues Win $1 Million Each in Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Draw
Dubai: Luck shone on two groups of Indian colleagues as they each won $1 million in the latest Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire draw, held on Wednesday at Concourse A, Dubai International Airport.
The first winner, Ettiyanikkal Pailybabu, a 56-year-old site supervisor from Kerala, claimed the jackpot in Series 513 with ticket number 3068, purchased online on August 18. Living in Dubai for 16 years, Pailybabu shared the ticket with nine colleagues—a tradition they’ve followed for four years. “Thank you Dubai Duty Free for this timely win! We are very happy and blessed,” he said, adding plans to return to Kerala and start a small business.
The second winner, Gopi Devarajan, a 46-year-old hospital manager from Chennai residing in Sharjah, won in Series 514 with ticket number 1978, purchased on August 14. Sharing the ticket with three colleagues, Devarajan has participated in the promotion since 2009. “This is unbelievable,” he said. “I will save this for my children’s education. I may also buy a house and start a small business.”
With these wins, Pailybabu and Devarajan become the 257th and 258th Indian nationals to win the $1 million prize since the promotion began in 1999. Indians remain the largest group of winners in the draw’s history.
Luxury Vehicle Winners
The Finest Surprise draw, held alongside the main event, awarded two other lucky participants:
Khaled Al Dhaheri, a 51-year-old Emirati from Abu Dhabi, won a Land Rover Defender 110 V8 HSE P525 (Fuji White) with ticket number 0047. The retired government employee and father of four said, “I’m so happy and lucky that I won with Dubai Duty Free. Thank you so much!”
Olavo Fernandes, an Indian expat in the UAE, won an Aprilia RSV4 1100 (Grey) motorbike with ticket number 0602. Organizers expect him to be equally thrilled once contacted.
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