Dubai: 2 Indian expats become millionaires with duty free draw

Two Indian nationals have become the latest millionaires after winning the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draws held on Tuesday.

Amin Virani, a 69-year-old based in Lubumbashi, Congo, won $1 million in Millennium Millionaire Series 505 with ticket number 0864. He had purchased his ticket online on June 4. A retired father of two, Virani has been participating in the promotion regularly for the past three years.

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“I didn’t expect to win. This will greatly help me with my retirement plans,” he said. Joining him as a fellow winner is Peter D’Silva, a 45-year-old Indian residing in Ajman, who also won US $ 1 million in Series 506 with ticket number 2593. He bought the ticket online on June 12.

D’Silva has lived in Ajman since 2011 and works as a facility manager at 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.

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Virani and D’Silva are the 252nd and 253rd Indian nationals, respectively, to win the $1 million prize since the promotion began in 1999. Indian nationals remain the largest group of ticket buyers for the Millennium Millionaire draw.

In the Finest Surprise draw that followed, two luxury motorbikes were also given away.

Mohammed Ebrahim, a 53-year-old Indian national living in Jebel Ali, won a Ducati Monster SP (Dark Stealth) motorbike in Series 627 with ticket number 0771, which he purchased online on June 14. He has been participating in the promotion for 10 years and works as an officer at a logistics company in Dubai.

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

In Series 628, a BMW R12 (Avus Silver Metallic) motorbike was won by Rukkunu Deen, another Indian national based in the UAE. He purchased ticket number 0823 online on June 12. Dubai Duty Free noted that Mr. Deen has yet to be contacted.

SM Ayaz Zakir

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ayaz@khaleejtimes.com

SM Ayaz Zakir is a Senior Correspondent with a flair for extraordinary stories. His playground? Every corner of the UAE. He often ventures into remote corners of the country to capture compelling news and human interest stories.