Dubai: Dubai Duty Free celebrated Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, with a special event at Concourse B of Dubai International Airport, bringing together traditional customs, cultural performances and festive celebrations.

Dr. Emmadi Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, Consul General of India in Dubai, attended the event and was welcomed by Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, along with members of the senior management team and Indian employees.

The celebration began with a welcome address by Cidambi, followed by a special Diwali message from the Consul General, who highlighted the significance of the festival. The ceremonial lighting of electric diyas marked a key moment of the event, followed by a traditional Indian dance performance. The programme concluded with a celebratory cake-cutting ceremony and a group photograph.

Speaking on the occasion, Cidambi said it was a privilege to celebrate Diwali alongside the Indian Consul General. He noted that the annual event reflects Dubai Duty Free’s commitment to recognising the diverse nationalities and cultures represented among its employees and customers.

He added that Dubai Duty Free employs nearly 1,000 Indian nationals, while Indian passengers account for approximately 13–14 per cent of its business, making Diwali an important occasion for the organisation.

Dr. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy thanked Cidambi and the Dubai Duty Free team for the invitation, expressing appreciation for the significant presence of Indian employees and customers. He also extended his Diwali greetings to the organisation and its staff.

Dubai Resident Wins US$1 Million in Millennium Millionaire Draw

Following the Diwali celebrations, Dubai Duty Free conducted its Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise promotional draws, bringing further excitement to the occasion.

Govindan Nair, a 62-year-old Indian national who has lived in Dubai for 30 years, won US$1 million in Millennium Millionaire Series 562 with ticket number 3159. He purchased the winning ticket online on October 20.

Originally from Kerala, Nair has participated regularly in Dubai Duty Free promotions for 25 years. He becomes the 286th Indian national to win US$1 million in the Millennium Millionaire promotion since its launch in 1999. Indian nationals continue to account for the largest share of ticket purchases in the promotion.

The draw was conducted by Ramesh Cidambi and senior Dubai Duty Free executives representing marketing, retail, human resources, finance, purchasing, security and operations.

Luxury Motorbike Winners Announced

The Finest Surprise promotion also announced two luxury motorbike winners.

Rami Mohammed Amer Alkhatib, a 36-year-old Jordanian national residing in Sharjah, won a BMW S 1000 R motorbike in Finest Surprise Series 683.

Abhilash Padmanabhan, an Indian national residing in the UAE, won a Harley-Davidson Sportster S in White Onyx Pearl in Series 684.

The event also featured the presentation of a Ducati Panigale V2 in red to previous winner Melwin Joaquim Pontes, who won the motorbike in Finest Surprise Series 681. The win marked his third motorbike prize from Dubai Duty Free.

The Diwali celebration and promotional draws highlighted the strong connection between Dubai Duty Free and the Indian community, reflecting the organisation’s multicultural workforce and the significant contribution of Indian travellers to its business.