Two Kerala-born Dubai residents strike US$1 million each in duty free draw
Mercedes-Benz and Aprilia prizes awarded in Finest Surprise draw
DUBAI – Two Dubai-based expatriates from Kerala have become the latest US$1 million winners in Dubai Duty Free’s Millennium Millionaire promotion, with the announcement made during a draw held at Concourse B of Dubai International Airport.
The winners were joined by two additional prize recipients who drove away with a luxury Mercedes-Benz car and an Aprilia superbike in the accompanying Finest Surprise draw.
The double millionaire win has further extended the strong run of Indian nationals in the long-running promotion, which has produced hundreds of winners since its launch in 1999. Both winning tickets were purchased online in June, and the draw was conducted in the presence of senior Dubai Duty Free officials and Dubai Airport Police representatives.
Millionaire winners
The first winner, 48-year-old Kabir Poovathingal, won US$1 million in Millennium Millionaire Series 547 with ticket number 3471, purchased on 13 June. Poovathingal has lived in Dubai for 22 years and works as an aviation operator in Abu Dhabi. A father of five, he has been participating regularly in the Dubai Duty Free promotion for more than 12 years.
“Thank you for this opportunity, Dubai Duty Free. It’s a wonderful and life-changing experience. I encourage everyone to take this opportunity and try their luck,” he said.
The second winner, Mohammed Shibil Thayyil, 30, won US$1 million in Millennium Millionaire Series 548 with ticket number 4832, purchased online on 18 June.
Thayyil arrived in Dubai in October 2025 and works in sales at Sharjah Airport International Free Zone. Having married only last month, he won the prize with just his second ticket in the promotion.
“You have changed my life! This is the greatest news ever! Thank you so much Dubai Duty Free,” he said after receiving the news.
Dubai Duty Free said the two winners are the 278th and 279th Indian nationals to win US$1 million in the Millennium Millionaire promotion since its inception. Indian nationals continue to be the largest group of ticket purchasers.
Luxury prizes
Following the millionaire draw, the Finest Surprise promotion awarded two high-end vehicles.
Kaushal Ved, a 39-year-old Indian national living in Muscat, Oman, won a Mercedes-Benz S500 (Metallic Paint Obsidian) in Finest Surprise Series 1956 with ticket number 1513, purchased online on 25 June.
Ved, who works as an insurance sales agent, has been entering the promotion for five years and had purchased two tickets in the series.
“Amazing! I have been buying tickets every month, usually a combination of Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise tickets. I never expected the day would come when I would win,” he said.
Superbike reward
The second Finest Surprise winner was Mahmoud Harissi, a 45-year-old Canadian national based in Kuwait, who won an Aprilia RSV4 1100 (Poison Yellow) motorbike in Series 670 with ticket number 0391.
Harissi purchased his ticket at Dubai International Airport on 12 June and secured the prize on only his third attempt in the promotion. A father of four, he works as a regional director for a technology company.
“Thank you for this opportunity. I encourage everyone to participate. I would also like to commend the transparency of the draw,” he said.
The draw was conducted by Dr Bernard Creed, Senior Vice President of Finance; Zayed Al Shebli, Senior Vice President of Asset Protection; Mohamad Al Khaja, Vice President of Retail Support; Yasa Tahir, Vice President of Human Resources; Salim Dahman, Senior Manager of Marketing; and Fatema Al Fardan, Senior Manager of Purchasing, alongside two Dubai Airport Police officers.