Indian expat wins $1m in Dubai Duty Free raffle draw held at Dubai Air Show site

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

An Indian expat Ryan Valdeiro got richer by $1 million after his ticket number 0274 of series 374 was drawn in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire at the draw held on Tuesday at the Dubai Airshow site.

The father of two, who works as a Financial Manager for Neuman & Esser Gulf FZE had purchased the ticket online on Oct.27.

Valdeiro has only started participating in Dubai Duty Free's promotion for a couple of months and couldn’t believe it when he received a call from Dubai Duty Free informing him that he won $1 million.

“Your call will really change our life. Thank you so much Dubai Duty Free, I’ll be forever grateful for this win,” said Valdeiro.

When asked on his initial plan with his win he said, “I will help some people in need, my family in India and secure the future of my two beautiful kids.”

Valdeiro is the 185th 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.

Tuesday's Millennium Millionaire draw was conducted by Dubai Duty Free's Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, Colm McLoughlin, COO Ramesh Cidambi, Salah Tahlak, Executive Vice President - Corporate Services, Sinead El Sibai, SVP – Marketing, Mona Al Ali, SVP – HR and Zayed Al Shebli, SVP – Loss Prevention and Corporate Security.

Following the Millennium Millionaire draw the Finest Surprise draw was conducted for one luxury car and two motorbikes. Joining in the draw line-up was Yousef Al Khalid, Senior Manager - External Affairs & Employee Services and Dave Cattanach, General Manager – The Irish Village Complex.

Abdulla Al Kuwari, a Qatari national based in Qatar won a Mercedes Benz S500 (Black) car, with ticket number 0828 in Finest Surprise Series 1786 which he purchased online on Oct.8.

Al Kuwari is currently uncontactable but will surely be surprised to hear of his win.

Hariharan B., a Sri Lankan national based in Dubai won a BMW R nineT Special 719 (Aluminum) motorbike, with ticket number 0739 in Finest Surprise Series 475, which he purchased at the DDF Finest Surprise counter in Dubai Airport.

Hariharan is also not available for immediate comment.

Lastly, Joachim Baron Ramos, a 12 year old Filipino national based in Dubai won a BMW F 900 XR (Light White) motorbike, with ticket number 0816 in Finest Surprise Series 476, which his father purchased in his name online on 31st October.

Joachim is a lucky double winner as he previously won an Aprilia Tuono Factory (Superpole) motorbike, with ticket number 0040 in Finest Surprise Series 427 in October 2020.

Speaking to his father Ronald Ramos said, “Thank you so much Dubai Duty Free for making me a second time motorbike winner. I’m praying the next time I will receive a call from Dubai Duty Free it’s for $1 million.”

Ramos is a regular participant in Dubai Duty Free's promotion for 4 years now and has been buying ticket under his children’s name.