First-time Dubai Duty Free ticket earns Pakistani woman $1m

A casual decision to buy a Dubai Duty Free ticket has turned into a life-changing moment for 38-year-old finance professional and chartered accountant Hira Nayyer, who won $1 million on her very first attempt.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Nayyer said she purchased the ticket online on July 3 after a colleague mentioned the promotion during a conversation at work. The purchase made her the 29th Pakistani national to win Dubai Duty Free's Millennium Millionaire Series 550.

"He told me there was this lottery and that the chances of winning were quite good. I had never heard about the Dubai Duty Free promotion before. I checked the website and decided to buy just one ticket," she said.

A few days later, Nayyer was watching the live draw from her office desk when her ticket number was announced. "They said 1787, and I just froze in my seat. I couldn't believe it. I kept thinking, 'How can this happen?'" she recalled.

Despite becoming a millionaire overnight, Nayyer said she has shared the news only with her fiancé and is carefully considering how to use the prize money. "I never planned what I would do if I won because I never thought it could happen. Now I am thinking about buying property," she said.

Nayyer said she has long dreamed of owning a home in her own name. "My husband-to-be and I both work, so we have never had a major financial burden. But I have always wanted to own a house — maybe a villa in Dubai or a home in Pakistan," she said.

For Nayyer, the unexpected windfall represents more than financial security; it is an opportunity to fulfil a lifelong dream.

While she is still coming to terms with her newfound fortune, she hopes to make thoughtful decisions with the money and invest in a home that she and her family can cherish for years to come.