DUBAI: An Indian student and Emirati National have been announced as the new dollar millionaires at the latest Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draw, held today at Concourse C of Dubai International Airport.
Mr. Wayne Nash D’Souza, an 18-year-old Indian national based in Dubai became a US$1 million winner in Millennium Millionaire Series 510 with ticket number 4463 which he purchased in Concourse A on 26th July on his way to Los Angeles, California with his family.
Speaking from Los Angeles, Mr. D’Souza, who will now be based in the U.S. to pursue his higher studies in aerospace engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, was ecstatic upon hearing the good news.
Born and raised in Dubai, with family roots in Mumbai, Mr. D’Souza is a frequent traveller, journeying with his family three to four times a year. Without fail, they always purchase tickets for the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire promotion.
“Thank you so much, Dubai Duty Free. I will definitely put this money to good use,” he said.
When asked about his plans for the prize money, he turned to his father and responded, “It will go toward me and my sister’s education, and some of it will be used to buy property or invest in Dubai.”
Mr. D’Souza is the 255th Indian national to have won US$1 million in the Millennium Millionaire promotion since 1999, with Indian nationals being by far the biggest purchasers of tickets.
Joining Mr. D’Souza as a fellow US dollar millionaire is Mr. Mansour Al Hashemi, a 55-year-old Emirati national based in Al Ain who won in Millennium Millionaire Series 511 with ticket number 0548 which he purchased in Concourse B on 27th July going to Bahrain
A regular participant in Dubai Duty Free’s promotion for 10 years now, Mr. Al Hashemi is a father of four.
“Thank you, Dubai Duty, Free! I’m very happy to have won in your amazing promotion,” he said.
Mr. Al Hashemi is the 17th Emirati national to have won $1 million in the Millennium Millionaire promotion.
Today’s draw was conducted by Dubai Duty Free Managing Director, Ramesh Cidambi, Salah Tahlak, Deputy Managing Director, Sinead El Sibai, SVP – Marketing, Sharon Beecham, SVP – Purchasing, Mohamad Al Khaja, VP – Retail Support, Thankachan Varghese, Senior Manager- Retail Support, Salim Ibrahim, Senior Manager- Retail Sales, Khalid Saleh, Senior Manager – Loss Prevention & Corporate Security and Nasser Al Jasmi, Senior Manager – Exchange Bureau.
Following the Millennium Millionaire draw, the Finest Surprise draw was conducted for a luxury motorbike.
Mr. Samson Assefa, a 60-year-old Ethiopian national based in Dubai won an Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 (Red) motorbike with ticket number 0090 in the Finest Surprise Series 632 which he purchased online on 13th July.
A regular participant in Dubai Duty Free’s promotion for 25 years now, Mr. Assefa is a father of three.
“Thank you Dubai Duty Free, best birthday gift ever!” he said.
Mr. Assefa is the first Ethiopian national to have won a motorbike since it was introduced in the Finest Surprise promotion in 2002.
