Watch: Indian expat from Kerala wins $1 million in Dubai Duty Free draw
Duty Free sales hit Dh638.8 million in record-breaking July
DUBAI – An Indian expat in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has won $1 million in the latest Dubai Duty Free (DDF) Millennium Millionaire draw held at Concourse D of Dubai International Airport on Wednesday.
Pradeep Chalatan, a 55-year-old document controller who has lived in Dubai for 20 years, struck lucky in Series 512 of the popular promotion with ticket number 2747, which he purchased online on August 8, DDF confirmed.
Originally from Kerala, Pradeep has been buying tickets for more than 10 years. This time, he shared the cost of the winning ticket with a colleague from India.
A father of two, Pradeep works with an architectural consultancy in the city. “I’m very thankful to Dubai Duty Free. You’ve secured my family’s future,” he told organisers after the life-changing win.
He is the 256th Indian national to win $1 million in the Millennium Millionaire promotion since it began in 1999. Indian nationals remain the largest group of ticket buyers, according to DDF.
Millennium Millionaire draw
The Millennium Millionaire draw, launched more than two decades ago, has produced hundreds of winners worldwide. For Pradeep, it marked the culmination of years of persistence.
Many participants have purchased tickets repeatedly, hoping for the coveted $1 million prize that has become one of the most recognised airport lottery promotions.
Dubai Duty Free: Record sales
Beyond the excitement of the win, Dubai Duty Free has continued to post remarkable sales. In July 2025, the retailer recorded Dh638.8 million ($175 million) in sales – its highest ever for the month of July. The figure surpassed the previous record of Dh602.8 million ($165 million) set in July 2023 and marked a 9.7 percent rise compared to Dh582.26 million ($159.52 million) in July 2024.
So far this year, sales have reached Dh4.734 billion ($1.30 billion), an increase of 5.86 percent on the same period in 2024. July 2025 has now become the ninth-best month in the retailer’s history.
Where is growth coming from?
Perfumes maintained their position as the top-selling category with a 10.3 percent year-on-year rise. Gold sales surged by 15.5 percent, while confectionery stood out with an impressive 57 percent increase compared to July last year. Watches and precious jewellery also showed strong growth, posting 18.4 percent and 16.8 percent increases respectively.
Luxury fashion and accessories in boutiques such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Cartier rose by 11.36 percent year-on-year in July. Dubai Duty Free’s REKLAIM initiative, which sells authenticated pre-owned luxury watches and handbags, has also proved a success. Since its launch in December 2024, the concept has generated more than Dh14.3 million ($3.9 million) in sales, including Dh1.6 million ($445,000) in July alone. Rolex remains the top performer, with 176 units sold since launch.