Watch: Dubai Duty Free crowns 250th $1 million winner from India
Sharjah student becomes youngest winner of motorbike; German lawyer bags luxury car
DUBAI Duty Free's famous Millennium Millionaire draw has once again changed lives – most notably that of 69-year-old Madathil Mohandas, an Indian expatriate in Dubai, who won $1 million in Series 501.
Mohandas purchased the lucky ticket number 0310 at Terminal 3 Arrivals on April 28, marking a fitting reward after 24 years of consistent participation.
A purchase manager at Al Jaber Gallery and father of two, Mohandas is originally from Kerala. He now joins a notable club as the 250th Indian national to claim the grand prize since the draw’s inception in 1999. Indians remain the largest group of ticket buyers in the campaign’s history.
Dubai Duty Free
During the draw ceremony held at Dubai International Airport’s Concourse A, another Indian expatriate was recognised for his own million-dollar fortune. Venugopal Mullacheri from Ajman, the winner of Series 500, was officially presented with his $1 million ceremonial cheque.
“It feels so surreal being here today to meet the people behind my amazing win,” Mullacheri said, expressing gratitude to the organisers.
The event was attended by senior executives of Dubai Duty Free, including Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi and Deputy MD Salah Tahlak.
Luxury prizes
In the subsequent Finest Surprise draw, four more winners drove – or rather rode – off with luxury prizes. German lawyer Bishr Shiblaq, a 48-year-old Dubai resident, claimed a BMW 740i M Sport (Oxide Grey Metallic) with ticket number 1185, bought online on May 3. Interestingly, this marks his second win; he had earlier won a Mercedes Benz S500 in September 2023.
Meanwhile, American expat Fresewra Fesseha Yohannes secured a Mercedes Benz G 63 (Obsidian Black) with ticket number 1470, purchased on May 5 in Concourse A.
Youngest winner
Eighteen-year-old Tasnim Aslam Shaikh from Sharjah had her own reason to celebrate after bagging a BMW F 900 R (Racing Blue Metallic) motorbike in Series 622. A fourth-year university student, she had never bought a ticket before – though her parents had done so under her name.
Another motorbike winner was Saudi national Hashim Hashim Said, who won an Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 (Torque Red) in Series 623, with ticket number 0980 purchased on May 2.