Dubai Duty Free draw sees Russian seaman and American businessman win US$1 million
Three more winners take home luxury cars and motorcycles
DUBAI – A Russian seaman and an American businessman based in Dubai have each won US$1 million in the latest Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire promotion.
Andrey Kravtsov, a 49-year-old Russian national from Vladivostok, won in Millennium Millionaire Series 552, while 41-year-old American Brad Cantrell, who has lived in Dubai for a decade, won in Series 553. The draw also produced three luxury vehicle winners, including a Land Rover Defender and two motorcycles.
The Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draws were held at Concourse D of Dubai International Airport. Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi, SVP Marketing Sinead El Sibai, SVP Finance Dr Bernard Creed, SVP Asset Control Zayed Al Shebli, VP Retail Support Mohamad Al Khaja, VP Human Resources Yasa Tahir, Senior Manager Retail Support Thankachan Varghese and Senior Manager Retail Sales Salim Ibrahin conducted the draws.
Million-dollar wins
Kravtsov won US$1 million in Millennium Millionaire Series 552 with ticket number 2577, which he purchased online on July 24. A regular participant in the Dubai Duty Free promotion for seven years, he is a father of three and works as a seaman on an oil tanker.
"Thank you so much Dubai Duty Free for this wonderful opportunity to win this big," Kravtsov said.
He becomes the fourth Russian national to win US$1 million through the Millennium Millionaire promotion since it was launched in 1999.
Cantrell followed as the winner of US$1 million in Millennium Millionaire Series 553. The Dubai-based American held ticket number 2849, purchased online on August 4.
A Dubai resident for 10 years, Cantrell has been a regular participant in the promotion for a long time. He is a father of one and runs a design company in Dubai.
"This is absolutely amazing! Thank you Dubai Duty Free!" Cantrell said.
Asked about his plans for the prize money, Cantrell said he intended to buy a property and invest in his business.
Cantrell becomes the 16th American national to win the Millennium Millionaire promotion since its inception.
Second million
The draw was followed by a presentation ceremony for the winner of Millennium Millionaire Series 551, Lebanese national Antoine Labaky, who is based in Beirut. Labaky won with ticket number 3360.
Labaky is a two-time winner of the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire promotion and has become the 12th person to win the promotion twice. He previously won US$1 million in Millennium Millionaire Series 279 in August 2018.
His latest win also adds to a remarkable record of prizes from Dubai Duty Free. In August 2004, Labaky won a BMW 745Li in Finest Surprise Series 1147, making his latest US$1 million prize his third Dubai Duty Free win.
Labaky received his ceremonial cheque from Cidambi alongside other Dubai Duty Free executives.
"It's great to be back at Dubai Duty Free to receive my second US$1 million ceremonial cheque. It still feels surreal to be in the same position I was back in August 2018, when I first accepted my US$1 million prize," Labaky said.
"Winning US$1 million twice, as well as a car, is indeed something I never imagined. I'm very grateful for this opportunity and I can't thank Dubai Duty Free enough for running an amazing promotion," he added.
Luxury prizes
The Finest Surprise draw that followed the Millennium Millionaire presentation produced three vehicle winners.
Irish national Brian Rooney, 48, won a Land Rover Defender 110 V8 Ultimate Edition P525 in Charente Grey with ticket number 0603 in Finest Surprise Series 1960. He purchased the ticket online in Concourse B on July 16.
Rooney has lived in Dubai for four years and has participated in the Dubai Duty Free promotion for one year. A father of two, he is an investor and entrepreneur and founded Trap Insights, a Dubai-based technology company operating in the facilities management and pest control sectors.
"Thank you very much Dubai Duty Free! This is the first time I've ever won something in my life and I'm happy that it was with Dubai Duty Free!" Rooney said.
He becomes the ninth Irish national to win the Finest Surprise car promotion since its launch in 1989.
Filipino national Ronald Ramos, 45, won a Harley-Davidson Softail Street Bob-FXBB in Black with ticket number 0908 in Finest Surprise Series 674. He purchased the ticket online on July 20.
A Dubai resident, Ramos has participated in the promotion for nine years. He is a father of two and works as a QA/QC engineer for Binladin Construction Group.
Ramos previously purchased tickets under his son Joachin Baron Ramos' name. His son has won three motorcycles through Dubai Duty Free: an Aprilia Tuono Factory in October 2020 in Series 427, a BMW F900 XR in November 2021 in Series 476 and a BMW F850 GS in March 2022 in Series 492.
"Thank you Dubai Duty Free. Finally, after buying tickets under my own name for the last three years, I can finally say that my name has the same luck as my son," Ramos said.
Can you believe it? It’s the fourth motorbike win for one lucky family! ????️
— Dubai Duty Free (@DubaiDutyFree) August 12, 2026
Dubai-based Filipino Ronald Ramos has finally claimed a win of his own, taking home a Harley-Davidson after his son previously won three motorbikes in the #FinestSurprise draw.
Lady Luck certainly shines… pic.twitter.com/1Ye3d8pkvf
The third vehicle winner was Iranian national Elham Khalajzadeh, 42, who is based in Dubai. She won an Aprilia RSV4 1100 in Stingray Blue with ticket number 0110 in Finest Surprise Series 675.
Khalajzadeh purchased the winning ticket online on July 28 and has been participating in the Dubai Duty Free promotion for the past three to four months. A housewife and mother of one, she said: "Thank you Dubai Duty Free, I'm very happy with this win!"
The Finest Surprise draw was conducted with Fatema Al Fardan, Senior Manager Purchasing, and Labaky joining the proceedings.