Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire lottery: Qatar-based Malayali wins bumper prize of 8 crore

DUBAI: A Malayali expatriate living in Qatar has won the bumper prize in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire lottery. Jomi John (32), who lives in Doha, won $10 lakh (around Rs 8.3 crore) in the draw. The prize was announced during the 527th series draw held at Dubai International Airport. Jomi won the lottery with ticket number 4002, which he purchased online on December 5.

Jomi, who works as a draftsman in Doha, bought the ticket along with nine of his colleagues. For the past two years, the group has been purchasing tickets together under different names. This time, the ticket was bought in Jomi’s name, and luck favoured him. Jomi John is the 267th Indian to win the $1 million prize in the Millennium Millionaire lottery. The draw was conducted by a senior team led by Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi. The authorities have not released further details about the winner.

Meanwhile, in the Abu Dhabi Big Ticket draw held recently, a Malayali nurse from Ajman, Tintu Jesmon, won 100,000 dirhams (around Rs 24 lakh). She won the prize in Big Ticket Series 281.

Tintu has been living in the UAE for the past 15 years and purchased the ticket along with ten of her friends. The ticket, bearing number 522882, was bought on November 30. She said she first learned about the Big Ticket lottery through her friends and began trying her luck five years ago. Despite several disappointments, she continued participating. Tintu said the prize money will be shared equally among the ten friends who joined her in buying the ticket.