A 49‑year‑old Russian seaman working as an officer in the marine industry has turned a vivid dream into a $1 million win.
Dream sparked a lottery habit
Seven years ago, while on holiday in Dubai with his wife, Andrey woke up from a clear dream that he had won a lottery in the city. He did not know any local lottery existed, so the next day he searched online and discovered the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire draw. "I had a dream that I won a lottery somewhere in Dubai," he told Khaleej Times. Motivated by the vision, he began buying tickets a few times each year, even though his work at sea often left him with little or no signal and limited ability to follow the draw’s progress.
The couple also welcomed a son nine months after that trip, a birth Andrey jokes was his first win. The child is now seven, matching the number of years Andrey waited for the lottery to pay off. His perseverance in purchasing tickets year after year finally aligned with the seven‑year mark, delivering the prize he had imagined.
From a suspicious call to a millionaire’s celebration
On August 12, while visiting his father in Vladivostok, Andrey’s mother answered a call from Dubai Duty Free. She immediately suspected a scam, warning her son not to accept calls from Dubai. Andrey initially thought the call might be about a job application he had submitted to a Dubai company, a reasonable assumption given his past attempts to find work in the emirate.
When he called back, the representative asked him to verify his ticket details. "At first, I did not understand that he was talking about the lottery," Andrey recalled. After checking the numbers, he realised he had indeed become a millionaire. The prize, worth $1 million, will see a portion invested back into Dubai, reflecting his long‑standing connection to the city and his desire to give back to the place that inspired his dream.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire draw?
It is a lottery promotion run by Dubai Duty Free where participants buy tickets for a chance to win cash prizes, such as the $1 million prize won by Andrey.
How much did the Russian seaman win in the Dubai lottery?
Andrey, a 49‑year‑old Russian seaman, won a $1 million prize in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire draw after seven years of buying tickets.
How was the prize confirmed for Andrey?
While visiting his father in Vladivostok, Andrey’s mother received a call from Dubai Duty Free; after Andrey called back and verified his ticket details, he learned he had indeed won the $1 million prize.
Can lottery winnings be invested in Dubai?
Yes; Andrey plans to invest part of his $1 million winnings back into Dubai, reflecting his long‑standing connection to the city and desire to give back.
