UAE. Michael McGinley (pictured), a well-known figure in travel retail, has become the first Irishman to capture the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire prize, after a draw earlier today.
McGinley, who is based in Dubai, became a US$1 million winner in Series 296. A regular participant in the promotion, McGinley regularly buys a ticket to the Dubai Duty Free promotion whenever he travels to Ireland, which is around five to six times a year.
Reacting to his win, McGinley said: “What can I say? I just tried my Irish luck and it worked! Thank you so much Dubai Duty Free.”
McGinley is well known in Middle East travel retail for his work with a leading technology distributor. He is also a top-class golfer and regular participant and prize winner in the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup (he was narrowly beaten to the 2013 title by The Moodie Davitt Report’s Dermot Davitt).
Dubai Duty Free also announced a second Millennium Millionaire winner today; Mukhtar M. won in Series 297. A Canadian national living in Dubai, he bought his winning ticket at the Tennis Village during the recent Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
The draw was conducted by Dubai Duty Free Chief Operating Officer Ramesh Cidambi, Executive Vice President – Corporate Services Salah Tahlak and Senior Vice President – Marketing Sinead El Sibai.
Following the draw, the presentation to two previous Finest Surprise Promotion winners took place. Munir Jamil Khoury, a British national based in Dubai won an Audi Q8 3.0 (Dragon Orange Metallic) in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Surprise draw. His winning ticket was drawn by Roger Federer after the final match of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on 2 March. Shahul Hameed, an Indian national living in Dubai, won an Indian Scout Bobber.
Meanwhile, two new winners of luxury vehicles were announced when the Finest Surprise draw was conducted by the Dubai Duty Free team along with ARN presenters and authors, Brandy Scott and Richard Dean, who had book signing engagements at the retail operation today.
Akira Hashizume, a Japanese national based in Fukuoka, bought his ticket online, later winning a Bentley Bentayga V8 (Glacier White). Elton Jaco Haubert, a Brazilian national from Rio Grande do Sul, won a BMW S 1000 XR (Black Storm Metallic) motorbike.
