An Indian accountant has now become a millionaire, while three others will drive away luxury vehicles when their winning ticket numbers were drawn on Tuesday for the Dubai Duty-Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise promotions held at Concourse A – Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport.
Praveen Aranha, an Indian national based in Dubai, won USD 1 million (Rs 7.1 crore) in Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Series 312 with ticket number 3069.
A Dubai resident for 16 years, Aranha is a management accountant at the Atlantis in Palm. Jumeirah. Aranha is the 151st Indian national to have won US$1 million since its inception in 1999.
A long-time participant to Dubai Duty Free promotion for 15 years now, Aranha shared the ticket cost with his two other colleagues – an Indian and an Egyptian and bought it when he went for a holiday to India in September.
“I will save a portion for my daughter’s education who is currently in the United States studying business administration,” Aranha said.
“This is an amazing win and I think everybody should give it a chance, expect the unexpected,” he added.
Ronni Thomas, a 40-year old Indian national from Sharjah won a Mercedes Benz S560 (Diamond White) in Series 1732 with ticket number 1262. Thomas, a lead designer for Lamprell bought his lucky ticket online.
Marites B, a 35-year-old Filipina from Dubai won an Aprilia Dorsoduro motorbike (Adrenalinic Silver) in Series 380 with ticket number 0483. Frank Fisher, an Australian national won a Moto Guzzi Audace motorbike (Black) in Series 381 with ticket number 0181.