Indian expat from Kerala wins $1m in Dubai Duty Free raffle

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

A lucky Indian national based in Dubai was announced as the latest  $1 million winner in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire draw held on Wednesday at Terminal 2 of Dubai International Airport.

Anub Pillai, a 46 year old Indian national who has been living in Dubai for 21 years, became a dollar millionaire in Millennium Millionaire Series 341 with ticket number 4512 which he bought online on Oct.4, 2020.

A regular participant in the Dubai Duty Free promotion for 10 years now, Pillai is a father of two and works as a senior MEP manager for an international building and infrastructure contractors in the Middle East.

“I’m really thankful to Dubai Duty Free for running an amazing promotion. Unlike other similar promotions in the UAE, Dubai Duty Free’s advantage of selling only 5000 tickets per series gives people like me a better opportunity to win.”

Pillai who hails from Kerala in India is the 169th Indian national to have won $1 million since the start of the Millennium Millionaire promotion in 1999.

Indian nationals make up the highest number of Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire ticket buyers.

Today'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 and Michael Schmidt, SVP - Retail Support.

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

Kathleen Lising, a 37 year old Filipino national based in Sharjah won a Mercedes Benz AMG GT 43 (Diamond White) with ticket number 0491 in Finest Surprise Series 1760 which she purchased online on 1st October.

A resident of Sharjah for 11 years now, Lising is a mother of two and works for Al Ansari Exchange in Sharjah. 

She was understandably over the moon and couldn’t contain her excitement to share the good news to her four other colleagues with whom she shared the ticket cost.

“I may not be able to keep the car because I’m sharing the ticket cost with my colleagues but given the current situation, I am so thankful to Dubai Duty Free for this very timely win and advanced birthday gift,” she said.

Meanwhile, Vishal Raveendran, a 31 year old Indian national based in Dubai won an Indian Chief Darkhorse (Thunder Black Smoke) motorbike with ticket number 0389 in Finest Surprise Series 426, which he purchased online on 28th September.

A Dubai resident for 9 years now, Raveendran works as a supervisor for Al Nakhli dairy farm has been a regular participant to Dubai Duty Free promotion for more than 9 years now.

“I never thought I would win but I never doubted your promotion,” he said

Lastly, Joachim Baron Ramos, a 10 year old Filipino national based in International City in Dubai won an Aprilia Tuono Factory (Superpole) motorbike with ticket number 0040 in Finest Surprise Series 427, which his father purchased in his name online on 1st October.

Speaking to his father Ronald Ramos said, “I’ve been participating in the Dubai Duty Free promotion for 3 years now and this is the second time I had the ticket named after my son. Thank you Dubai Duty Free for this unforgettable win.”