Winning Million-Dollar Prizes for Two Groups of Indian Expats in Dubai Duty Free Raffle
Indian Expats Win Big in Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise Draw
Two groups of Indian colleagues, one led by Ettiyanikkal Pailybabu, have each won $1 million in the popular Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draw. The retail company based in Dubai International Airport sponsors this event, which is a series of draws offering participants the chance to win large cash prizes.
Pailybabu, a 56-year-old expat based in Dubai, hails from Kerala and is a father of two. He purchased the winning ticket online, number 3068, on August 18. Meanwhile, Gopi Devarajan, a 46-year-old Indian national based in Sharjah, has won $1 million in the same draw. Devarajan, who is also a father of two and works as a manager for a hospital in Chennai, won with ticket number 1978 in series 514, which he purchased online on August 14.
Devarajan shares the $1 million prize money with three compatriots. When asked about his plans for the money, Devarajan said he will save it for his children's education, buy a house, and start a small business. On the other hand, after receiving his share of the prize, Pailybabu plans to start a small business in Kerala.
Interestingly, Indians are the biggest buyers of raffle tickets in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draw. The winning group of 10 friends has been participating in the draw for the past four years and have been alternating names on the ticket for each series.
The search results do not provide information on the identity of the third Indian who won a million in the Millennium Millionaire promotion by Dubai Duty Free since 1999. Devarajan is the 258th Indian national to win $1 million in the Millennium Millionaire promotion since its inception in 1999.
The Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draw took place on Wednesday. The popularity of the event among expats in Dubai is evident, with many hoping to strike it rich like Pailybabu and Devarajan.
