Dubai: Filipino expat wins $1 million in Duty Free draw by picking staff number

Who would have thought that picking your employee number would lead you to winning a staggering $1 million (Dh3.67 million)?

This is what Erwin D., a 46-year old Filipino expat and long-time Dubai resident, did when he bought online early this month the winning ticket number 0739 for Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Series 433 draw. He and nine of his friends will now share the $1-million prize equally.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, after hearing the good news on Wednesday, Erwin said he had been waiting for ticket 0739 to be available online. “When I saw it available on August 13, I called my friends to contribute buying the ticket,” he said.

A regular participant in Dubai Duty Free's promotion for five years now, Erwin works as a visual merchandising supervisor for a major UAE retail company. He has been living in Dubai for the past 20 years. He and friends pool money to buy raffle tickets.

He said: "Thank you, Dubai Duty Free! This win will definitely change my life big time. This win will help me pay for my mother's dialysis expenses; the education of my two children who are studying here (one in high school; the other in college) and hopefully to build my dream house in the Philippines."

“Nothing will change in our lifestyle. Me and my wife will continue working at our respective workplaces. But one thing is for sure: we will not be spendthrift but be mindful to take care of this ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ windfall,” he added.

Erwin is the 14th Filipino national to have won $1 million since the start of the Millennium Millionaire promotion in 1999.

Other winners

Magnat Babaev, a 53-year-old Russian national based in Dubai won a Mercedes Benz S500 (Black) car, with ticket number 0757 in the Finest Surprise Series 1849, which he purchased online on August 14.

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