Filipino restaurant worker wins US$1m in Dubai airport draw

The winner Alvin, who works for Ocean Basket restaurant in Dubai International Airport, shared the winning ticket with his colleague and best friend, Vishwanath Devadiga. Courtesy Dubai Duty Free

DUBAI // A Filipino working at Dubai International Airport became a dollar millionaire on Tuesday.

Alvin Cruz Gutierrez, 28, shared the winning ticket of the 190th Millennium Millionaire Draw with his colleague and best friend, Vishwanath Devadiga.

The pair, who work at Ocean Basket restaurant, were in shock after hearing the news.

“We are thrilled to become millionaires and thankful to Dubai Duty Free,” Mr Gutierrez said. “We’ve been waiting for a few years for this moment – and our prize was well worth the wait.”

Babu Narayana Jayaraman, a 39-year-old Indian living in Dubai, won a BMW 750Li while another Indian, Lionel Vaz, won a Ducati Diavel Dark motorbike.

Dubai Duty Free also presented Dubai resident Ranjith Parakkal, also an Indian, with the keys to a Ducati Monster 821 motorcycle. “It was always my dream to ride a Ducati and I’ve been entering the Finest Surprise Promotion in the hope to win one,” Mr Parakkal said.

“Now that my dream came true, I am still in shock and would like to thank Dubai Duty Free for this amazing experience.”

Now in its 16th year, the draw was entered by 5,000 hopeful people.