Two Indian expats living in Dubai have each won $1 million in the latest Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire draw, following years of taking part in the popular promotion.
Rohan Prakash Fernandes and Suresh PS were named winners of two consecutive Millennium Millionaire series during the draw held on Wednesday, August 26, at Concourse A of Dubai International Airport.
Both winners have been participating in Dubai Duty Free promotions for several years, but their winning tickets came with very different stories.
Car Plate Number Brings $1 Million Win
Rohan Prakash Fernandes, a 38-year-old Indian national from Karnataka, won $1 million in Millennium Millionaire Series 554 with ticket number 1710.
Fernandes bought the ticket online on July 31 after spotting the same number on a car registration plate while he was choosing his entry. The combination caught his attention, and he decided to go with it.
It proved to be a lucky decision.
Fernandes has lived in Dubai for 15 years and works as an engineer for a marine-based company. A father of one, he has been participating in Dubai Duty Free promotions for around a decade.
Following his win, Fernandes said his priority is his family’s future. He plans to save part of the money for his child’s education, invest some of the prize and donate a portion to charity.
The win comes after years of regularly trying his luck in the promotion.
Group of Friends Wins After Seven Years of Trying
The second $1 million prize went to Suresh PS, a 36-year-old Indian national originally from Kerala.
Suresh won Millennium Millionaire Series 555 with ticket number 2122, which was purchased online on August 12.
The prize will be shared, however, as Suresh bought the ticket together with nine Indian friends. The group has been participating in the Dubai Duty Free promotion for the past seven years.
Suresh has lived in Dubai for seven years and works as a health, safety and environment coordinator for a contracting company. He is also a father of one.
His first plan following the win is to buy a house in Kerala.
For Suresh and his friends, the result comes after years of pooling their money and entering the draw together.
Indian Millionaire Winners Reach 282
The latest results have taken the number of Indian nationals who have won the Millennium Millionaire’s $1 million prize to 282 since the promotion began in 1999.
Fernandes became the 281st Indian national to win, while Suresh became the 282nd.
Indian nationals are also the largest group of ticket buyers in the Millennium Millionaire promotion.
The August 26 draw at Concourse A of Dubai International Airport was conducted by Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi alongside senior company officials.
Three Luxury Vehicles Won in Finest Surprise Draw
The Millennium Millionaire draw was followed by Dubai Duty Free’s Finest Surprise draw, where three more participants won luxury vehicles.
Dubai resident Amit Saraf, 52, won a BMW 760i xDrive M Gran Lusso with ticket number 1914.
It was Saraf’s sixth win in a Dubai Duty Free promotion. His previous prizes include two $1 million jackpots, won in January 2021 and October 2024, as well as two Mercedes-Benz vehicles and a Dh40,000 Dubai Duty Free gift card.
Another Indian national, Karnaiah Mandolla, 48, who lives in Sharjah, won a Mercedes-Benz G 500 Station Wagon with ticket number 1665.
Mandolla had already experienced a major Dubai Duty Free win, having secured $1 million in the Millennium Millionaire promotion in October 2023.
Belgian national David Kingen, 55, won a Ducati Panigale V2S motorcycle with ticket number 0071.
Kingen, who lives in Bullingen and works for the Belgian government, is now a three-time motorcycle winner in Dubai Duty Free promotions. His previous wins were a BMW R Nine T Urban in 2017 and a BMW R Nine T Racer in 2019.
For Fernandes, the latest draw means greater financial security for his family and support for his child’s education. For Suresh and the nine friends sharing his winning ticket, seven years of entering the promotion together have finally delivered the result they had been hoping for.