A Russian seaman’s extraordinary dream has turned into reality after he won $1 million in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire promotion, seven years after dreaming that he would become a lottery winner in Dubai.
Andrey, a 49-year-old marine industry officer, was on holiday in Dubai with his wife seven years ago when he experienced a vivid dream about winning a lottery in the city. At the time, he did not even know such a draw existed.
The following morning, he searched online and discovered the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire promotion. Inspired by the dream, he began purchasing tickets several times a year.
Seven years later, the numbers finally worked in his favour.
A dream that stayed with him
Andrey said the dream was unusually clear and remained in his thoughts for years.
After learning about the Dubai Duty Free draw, he continued buying tickets whenever he could. Although he did not win immediately, he joked that his Dubai holiday brought another unexpected blessing.
He and his wife had been hoping to have another child during that trip. Nine months later, their son was born.
“I didn’t win the lottery then, but after nine months, I got a son,” Andrey said, describing the birth as another kind of victory. His son is now seven years old — the same amount of time Andrey waited for his lottery dream to come true.
Million-dollar news initially looked like a scam
The winning moment itself was almost missed because Andrey initially suspected that the call informing him about the prize could be fraudulent.
On August 12, Dubai Duty Free attempted to contact him while he was in Vladivostok visiting his father. Andrey had recently returned from working at sea and had left his phone with his mother because mobile connectivity can be limited onboard ships.
When his mother received the call, she became suspicious and warned him not to trust an unexpected call from Dubai.
Andrey also had another theory. Having previously applied for jobs with companies in Dubai, he thought the call might be related to employment.
Instead, he was asked to check the details of his Dubai Duty Free ticket.
Once he verified the information, the reality became clear: the call was not about a job. He had won $1 million.
Family and education come first
Despite the life-changing prize, Andrey said he does not intend to completely change his lifestyle.
He plans to use a significant portion of the money for his three children, who are 14, 10 and seven, with their education among his main priorities.
He is also considering donating some of his winnings to charity and supporting people he knows.
For himself, Andrey said he has no major plans to change his life immediately. He may eventually reduce or stop working at sea, but he expects to remain connected to the marine industry.
Dubai investment is on the cards
Andrey’s connection with Dubai goes beyond the lottery.
He has previously worked in Dubai, including at Dubai Drydocks, and regularly visits the emirate with his family. He now plans to return and may invest part of his winnings in the city.
One possibility is buying an apartment that could eventually be used by his children if they choose to study in Dubai.
For Andrey, such an investment would also have symbolic value. The city where he won the money could become the place where he invests part of it.
A seven-year journey comes full circle
Andrey said his winning ticket was different from some of his earlier purchases because the numbers had personal significance.
His story began with a dream during a family holiday and continued through years of occasional ticket purchases. The eventual $1 million prize has now brought that unusual journey to an extraordinary conclusion.
While Andrey’s story may be rare, his plans for the money are grounded in family priorities — education, helping others and potentially investing in Dubai.
After seven years of waiting, the Russian seaman can finally say that the dream he once had on a Dubai holiday has become reality.
