By Staff Reporter
Dubai: The first Namibian national and a second-time Saudi Arabian winner have each claimed $1 million in the Dubai Duty Free draw, held at Dubai International Airport on Wednesday.
Paul Jozua Joubert, a 52-year-old resident of Windhoek, Namibia, won $1 million in Millennium Millionaire Series 489 with ticket number 2664, which he purchased on January 19.
A regular participant in Dubai Duty Free’s promotion for 10 years, Joubert, who purchased four tickets, is a father of two and manages a private game reserve in Namibia.
“Thank you so much, Dubai Duty Free. I will continue to participate in your promotion in the hope of making it twice lucky,” he said.
Joining Joubert as a fellow millionaire is Abdulla Alsayed, a 68-year-old from Riyadh. He became the 10th person to win the Millennium Millionaire promotion twice. Alsayed won with his ticket number 0376 in Millennium Millionaire Series 490, which he purchased online on January 22.
A regular participant for over 20 years, Alsayed, who bought 30 tickets for Series 490, previously won $1 million in Millennium Millionaire Series 475 with ticket number 0300 in September 2024. He is a father of five and works for a real estate company.
“I’m so happy for this news! Shukran, Dubai Duty Free,” he said.
Dubai expats win luxury cars
Following the Millennium Millionaire draw, the Finest Surprise draw was conducted for two luxury cars and one motorbike.
Julian Lewis, a 73-year-old Indian expat based in Dubai won a Mercedes Benz SL 43 AMG with ticket number 1152 in the series 1908 purchased online on January 23.
A regular participant, Lewis is the colleague of the first-ever Finest Surprise winner, Simon Simonian, to whom he shared the ticket cost for the Rolls Royce. Lewis is a father of three and ran his own business of building materials that he started from his share of money from selling the Rolls Royce back in 1989.
“Thank you very much, Dubai Duty Free! It’s been a long time since I shared a win with my Lebanese colleague, but this time I finally won on my own,” he said.
Meanwhile, Seyedhesam Mirhejazi, a 39-year-old Iranian expat based in Dubai won a BMW 740i M Sport car with ticket number 0793 in the Finest Surprise Series 1909 which he purchased on January 26.
A regular participant for 3 years now, Mirhejazi is a father of two and works for a real estate company.
“It’s the best news for us today because my wife gave birth 2 days ago. In fact, when I purchased this ticket, I had my son in mind, so I think he’s our lucky charm,” he said.
Lastly, Michael Konrad Steinhoefel, a 52-year-old Swiss national based in Mexico City, won an Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory 1100 motorbike with ticket number 0652 in the Finest Surprise Series 612 which he purchased online on January 24.
A regular participant for 16 years, Steinhoefel who works as a risk manager for a bank previously won a Mercedes Benz S500 car last year.
“I appreciate Dubai Duty Free for continuing to run this amazing promotion; it’s indeed a great opportunity,” he said.
