Two New Dollar Millionaires and Three Luxury Vehicle Winners Kick off the Year in Style
DUBAI: Dubai Duty Free has ushered in 2026 with excitement and celebration, announcing its first set of winners for the year as part of its world-renowned Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise promotions at a draw held today in Concourse D of Dubai International Airport.
The two new dollar millionaires, each taking home US$1 million, are Italian and American nationals.
Mr. Giuseppe Mangili, an Italian national based in Milan won US$1 million in Millennium Millionaire Series 531 with ticket number 4244, which he purchased online on 28th December.
Mr. Mangili, is the first Italian national to win US$1 million in the Millennium Millionaire promotion since its inception in 1999. He is currently uncontactable but is expected to be delighted upon learning of his newfound fortune.
Joining Mr. Mangili as a fellow US dollar millionaire is Ms. Lina Boulos, an American national based in the United States, who won US$1 million in Millennium Millionaire Series 532 with ticket number 1772, purchased online on 4th January.
Given the time difference in the USA, Ms. Boulos who is the fifteenth American national to have won US$1 million in the Millennium Millionaire promotion, was not available for immediate comment.
Today’s draw was conducted by Dubai Duty Free’s Deputy Managing Director, Salah Tahlak, Dr. Bernard Creed, SVP – Finance, Sinead El Sibai, SVP – Marketing, Sharon Beecham SVP – Purchasing, Michael Schmidt, SVP – Retail, Mohamad Al Khaja, VP – Retail Support, Salim Ibrahim, Senior Manager- Retail Sales, Salim Dahman, Senior Manager – Marketing and Nasser Al Jasmi, Senior Manager – Exchange Bureau.
Following the Millennium Millionaire draw, the Finest Surprise draw was conducted for three luxury vehicles. Joining in the draw was Mohamad Al Khaja, VP – Retail Support.
Mr. Sharad Singh, a 40-year-old Indian national based in Dubai won a Mercedes Benz S500 (Metallic Paint Obsidian) car with ticket number 0267 in the Finest Surprise Series 1946 which he purchased online on 20th December during the Dubai Duty Free 42nd Anniversary.
A resident of Dubai since 2008, Mr. Singh has been a regular participant in Dubai Duty Free promotions for six years now and works as senior project engineer for an oil and gas company.
“Big thanks Dubai Duty Free! What a great way to start the year! People should keep trying -, eventually they can win, especially with the limited number of tickets,” he said.
Mr. Rinshad Ali, a 35-year-old Indian national based in Oman won a Ducati Multistrada V2S (Red) motorbike car with ticket number 1100 in the Finest Surprise Series 653 which he purchased online also during the Dubai Duty Free 42nd Anniversary on 20th December.
Born and living in Muscat, Mr. Ali is now a three-time Finest Surprise motorbike winner. In 2021, he won two motorbikes: an Indian Vintage Darkhorse (Thunder Black Smoke) with ticket number 0266 in Finest Surprise Series 441 in February and a BMW F 750 GS (Black/Yellow) with ticket number 0801 in Finest Surprise Series 446 in March.
Mr. Ali who works for an audit company was surprised to learn that one of his 10 tickets for Series 653 made him a third time lucky in Dubai Duty Free.
“Keep believing. Keep trying. You never know when luck will come,” he said.
Lastly, Mr. Sujith Bejjarapu, a 28-year-old Indian national based in Sharjah won a BMW R12 NineT (719 Aluminum) motorbike car with ticket number 0620 in the Finest Surprise Series 654 which he purchased online on 10th January.
A resident of Sharjah for eight years, Mr. Bejjarapu has been a regular participant in Dubai Duty Free promotions for two years now and works for a manufacturing and packaging company in Sharjah.
“Thank you so much Dubai Duty Free. It’s a very good start to the year.,” he said.
