Dubai Duty Free raffle: Indian expat wins $1 million after 15 years of trying

A UAE-based Indian national has won $1 million in the latest 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 May 27.

A regular participant in Dubai Duty Free's promotion for 15 years now, Kamaluddin bought the ticket 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 the top prize 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.

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 May 18.

A regular participant in the Dubai Duty Free promotion since 2020, Askouri had bought three tickets for Series 1806.

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 May 23.