Watch: Dubai Duty Free crowns two new $1 million winners

DUBAI – An Emirati father of eight and a Belgian expatriate living in Dubai have emerged as the newest dollar millionaires in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire promotion, with both winning $1 million each in the latest draws held on Wednesday at Dubai International Airport.

Senior Dubai Duty Free executives conducted the draws for Series 525 and 526, revealing two life-changing results for families in the UAE. The announcements also included new winners of three luxury vehicles under the Finest Surprise promotion.

Millionaire winners

Ahmed Al Junaibi, a 43-year-old Emirati based in Sharjah, secured the $1 million prize in Millennium Millionaire Series 526 with ticket number 0193. He purchased the ticket online on 27 November. Al Junaibi, who works with the UAE Army, has participated in the promotion for the past four years. He expressed his gratitude upon receiving the news, saying, “Thank you, Dubai Duty Free for giving me this new lease on life, it’s my first time winning something this big.” He is the 18th Emirati to win $1 million since the Millennium Millionaire draw began in 1999.

Joining him is 44-year-old Belgian national Manu van Droogenbroeck, who has lived in Dubai for nearly three years. He won $1 million in Millennium Millionaire Series 525 with ticket number 1810, purchased online on 10 November. Droogenbroeck, a father of two, works as an eco-system manager for EMEA at Dubai Internet City. He bought four tickets for the series and has been participating since arriving in the UAE in 2023.

Reacting to his win, Droogenbroeck described the experience as overwhelming. When asked about the immediate use of the prize money, he said he planned to pay off part of his mortgage, save for his children’s education, explore investment opportunities in the UAE, and buy a special Christmas gift for his family. He is the second Belgian national to become a dollar millionaire through the Dubai Duty Free promotion since its inception.

The draw was presided over by Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi, along with Deputy Managing Director Salah Tahlak, Senior Vice President for Marketing Sinead El Sibai, Senior Vice President for Finance Dr Bernard Creed, Senior Vice President for Human Resources Mona Al Ali, Senior Vice President for Purchasing Sharon Beecham and Senior Vice President for Loss Prevention and Corporate Security Zayed Al Shebli.

Luxury vehicles

Following the millionaire announcements, Dubai Duty Free held the Finest Surprise draw for three high-end vehicles. The prizes included a Mercedes Benz G 63, a BMW motorbike and an Aprilia motorbike, all won by long-time and first-time participants of the promotion.

Lebanese national Marcel Abou Jaoude, aged 55 and based in Beirut, won a Mercedes Benz G 63 (Obsidian Black Metallic) with ticket number 0110 in Finest Surprise Series 1942. He purchased his ticket on 20 November in Concourse D. A regular participant for 15 years, he works as head of private banking at an investment bank in Beirut.

Motorbike winners

A Filipino expatriate in the UAE, known as Raz Jr, won a BMW R 1300 R (Light White) motorbike in Finest Surprise Series 647 with ticket number 0926, bought online on 17 November. Dubai Duty Free confirmed that he is currently uncontactable.

The Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 (Scorpio Yellow) motorcycle in Finest Surprise Series 648 was won by 31-year-old Indian national Anandhakrishnan Karuthiah, a Dubai resident for 11 years. He purchased his winning ticket online on 28 November. A father of one, he works as a civil engineer for an engineering and consulting firm in Dubai. Expressing his appreciation, he said he was grateful for the unexpected win and would continue participating in the promotions.