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Qatar: A Doha-based school supervisor has become an instant millionaire in Qatar Duty Free’s latest US$1 million cash raffle draw. S.K. Abdul Razak, an Indian national, was given the news in a New Year’s Day phone call shortly after the draw was conducted at Doha International Airport. The duty free operation is a subsidiary of Qatar Airways, the national airline of the State of Qatar.

The draw was made within the retail area of Doha International Airport by Qatar Airways and Qatar Duty Free Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker.

Qatar Airways and Qatar Duty Free Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker, accompanied by Qatar Duty Free Vice President Keith Hunter, gets set to change one lucky traveller’s life forever in the Qatar Duty Free US$1 million cash draw

Speaking on holiday from his family home in the southern Indian state of Kerala, the 52-year-old Abdul Razak reportedly greeted the news with shock and excitement. He becomes the fifth millionaire since the retailer introduced the raffle draw in 2006.

“This has been a great New Year gift for me and my family,” said Razak, a father of two children, who works as an assistant supervisor at MES School in Doha. He has lived in the Qatari capital Doha for over 20 years.

He bought his winning ticket at Doha International Airport en route to Cochin and hopes to use his winnings to support worthy causes.

“I also want to start a business in Kerala to provide a better future for my family,” he added.

Al Baker said it was a perfect start to 2010 for the latest winner of the duty free promotion. “I offer my personal congratulations to Mr Abdul Razak. It is terrific that he will be using the money for worthy causes and to secure his family’s future. For those who missed out this time, there’s always another chance to win next time,” said Al Baker following the draw, adding that the promotion was an extremely popular element of the overall shopping experience at Doha International Airport.

The US Dollar Millionaire raffle was launched in May 2006. Departing and transiting passengers at Doha International Airport can purchase raffle tickets for US$263 or QAR950 each. Only 5,000 tickets are sold in each raffle.

Qatar Duty Free operates at the Departures, Arrivals, VIP and the Premium Terminal of Doha International Airport. It also operates an outlet at Doha Port for a growing number of passengers arriving and departing the State of Qatar by sea.

Qatar Duty Free, consistently one of the Middle East’s fastest-growing travel retail operations in recent times, enjoyed significant growth year-on-year in 2009, the company noted.

This was aided by an extended presence in the departures hall and the Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport, the airline’s operational hub.

The retailer also introduced a wide range of high-end luxury brands at the airport, in addition to expanding its core and specialist categories.

GEARING UP FOR THE NEW DOHA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

With the New Doha International Airport set to open by the end of 2011, the Qatar Duty Free team is already working on designing the available retail spaces, which will cover over 25,000sq m.

The area will feature exclusive branded boutiques and a retail offer “catering to passengers from all walks of life”, the company said.

By Martin Moodie – The Moodie Report ©

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