Hyderabad, May 1 -- In a life-changing twist of fate, a 49-year-old Dubai-based Indian expat from Kerala has won a staggering one million US dollars (Rs 8,46,10,887) in the latest Dubai Duty Free (DDF) Millennium Millionairedraw.

Biju Therool, originally from Kerala, secured the windfall in Series 499 of the draw with ticket number 0437. He purchased the ticket online on April 19 at Dubai International Airport's Terminal 2 Departure, just before boarding a flight to Kerala for a holiday.

Therool, who works for a retail chain, has been a resident of Dubai for the past 20 years and has been regularly participating in the DDF promotions for five years.

"Thank you very much Dubai Duty Free. I'm so happy with this win!" he said after being ...