Dubai Duty Free officials conduct the draw at Concourse B of Dubai International Airport on Wednesday.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

A Pakistani expatriate living in Abu Dhabi has joined the long list of $1 million winners when the latest Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draw was held on Wednesday at Concourse B of Dubai International Airport.

Mohammed Shafique Mohammed Siddique, a 48 year old Pakistani national became the latest dollar millionaire when his ticket number 4422 in Millennium Millionaire Series 340 was drawn on Wednesday. Siddique had purchased his ticket, which was only his second ever Millennium Millionaire ticket, online on Sept.10, 2020.

A father of 7 and a long-time resident of Abu Dhabi for 30 years now, Siddique who works as one of the partners for an Abu Dhabi property management company was surprised to win with his second attempt in the Millennium Millionaire promotion.

“Thank you Dubai Duty Free for this great opportunity to win $1 million in a such a very short time of participating in your promotion. I still cannot believe this is true.”

Siddique who hails from Lahore in Pakistan is the 19th Pakistani national to have won $1 million since the start of the Millennium Millionaire promotion in 1999.

Wednesday’s draw was conducted following strict social distancing by Dubai Duty Free’s Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, Colm McLoughlin, Chief Operating Officer, Ramesh Cidambi, Salah Tahlak, Executive Vice President – Corporate Services, Sinead El Sibai, SVP – Marketing, Michael Schmidt, SVP – Retail Support, Sharon Beecham, VP- Purchasing and Zayed Al Shebli, VP – Corporate Security and Loss Prevention.

Following the Millennium Millionaire draw, the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise draw for a Luxury car and two motorbikes was also conducted.

Angkur Sanghvi, a 35 year old Indian based in Dubai, won a Bentley Bentayga V8 (White Sand) with ticket number 1653 in Series 1759, which he bought online on 27th September.

A businessman and a resident of Dubai for 10 years now, Sanghvi is a regular participant in the Millennium Millionaire promotion, and decided to try his luck in  the Finest Surprise promotion by buying two tickets in Series 1759.  

“Thank you very much Dubai Duty Free. I never expected to win with my first ticket to your Finest Surprise promotion,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rabiya Begum, a 47 year old Indian national based in Dubai won a Harley Davison Fat Bob (Black Denim) with ticket number 0695 in Series 424, which she purchased online on Sept.18, 2020.

A mother of two and a resident of Dubai for 14 years now, Begum is a first-time participant in the Finest Surprise promotion and bought four tickets.

She was excited to hear that one of her tickets had won her a motorbike.

“Thank you very much Dubai Duty Free and may God bless all the people behind this amazing promotion,” she said.

Lastly, Mihails Kovals, a 42 year old Latvian national living in Dubai won an Aprilia Tuono Factory (Superpole) motorbike with ticket number 0836 in Series 425.

A self-confessed biker and resident of Dubai for 7 years now, Mr. Kovals, who works for a local company in Dubai, was delighted that one of the five tickets he had purchased online on 19^th September had been the winning ticket.

Kovals will be celebrating his birthday on 24th October and was delighted with his win.

“Dubai Duty Free has the best organised promotions. Participating is so easy and the draw presentation is excellent and very quick to announce. Thanks a lot Dubai Duty Free for this early birthday gift!”

Kovals is the first Latvian national to have won a motorbike since it was introduced in the Finest Surprise promotion in 2002.