For most of us, licence plates are an unremarkable feature of our cars, but for some they are a statement of wealth, power and prestige.
In the UAE, eye-popping prices are paid for licence plates with low numbers, unique combinations of letters, and numbers that have personal or cultural significance.
And as a global centre for investors, entrepreneurs and billionaires, the UAE has a long history of being home to some of the most expensive number plates in the world.
In fact, there are many that have sold for millions of dirhams, and often for charitable causes.
Below is a round-up of some of the world's most expensive licence plates sold in the UAE, and the people who bought them.
1. P 7 – Dubai Dh55 million ($15 million)
In April 2023, the world's most expensive car plate was sold to an unnamed Emirati bidder who paid a record Dh55 million for Dubai's number 7 plate after a fierce bidding war at an auction for the One Billion Meals campaign.
The auction, which was held to support efforts to combat global hunger, was held on April 9 at Four Seasons hotel in Dubai.
It's not clear if the new licence plate will be used for a new car or an existing car owned by the winning bidder.
2. 1 – Abu Dhabi Dh52.2m ($14.2m)
In 2008, UAE-based businessman Saeed Al Khouri paid 50 times the opening Dh1 million bid at a charity auction in Abu Dhabi. The number plate featured the single-digit number one, which until April 2023 held the record for the most expensive number plate sold.
3. AA9 - Dubai Dh38m ($10.3m)
The AA9 Dubai number plate was sold for Dh38m at the Most Noble Numbers sale in May 2021.
The charity auction, held by the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai, was selling rare number plates and mobile numbers to raise money for the 100 Million Meals campaign.
4. AA8 – Dubai Dh35m ($9.5m)
In 2022, the AA8 Dubai number plate sold at the Most Noble Numbers auction to raise funds for the One Billion Meals campaign.
The winning bidder is also the unnamed Emirati man who now holds the record for the world's most expensive plate yet sold – Dubai P7.
5. D5 – Dubai Dh33m ($8.9m)
In 2016, Dubai-based Indian businessman Balvinder Sahni paid Dh33 million for the D5 Dubai plate at an RTA auction.
The car enthusiast said he would put the number on one of his Rolls-Royce cars.
6. 1 - Abu Dhabi Dh31m ($8.5m)
A limited edition No 1 licence plate commemorating Abu Dhabi Government's Golden Jubilee was sold to Abdullah Al Mahri for Dh31 million in 2016.
The auction was organised by Emirates Auction in co-operation with Abu Dhabi Police at Emirates Palace Hotel.
The winning bidder said he bought the coveted license plate in honour of the country's Rulers who worked tirelessly to make the UAE No 1 in the world.
7. 5 – Abu Dhabi Dh25.2m ($6.8m)
In 2007, Emirati businessman Talaj Ali Khouri bought Abu Dhabi No 5 licence plate for Dh25.2 million at an auction organised by the Emirates Auction Company at the Emirates Palace Hotel.
Mr Khouri said he liked the number and that the raised funds would go towards helping traffic accident victims and people with special needs.
8. O9 – Dubai Dh24.5m ($6.8m)
In 2015, Balvinder Sahni successfully bid Dh24.5m for plate O9, and subsequently gave it to a charity that was building a children’s hospital, he told The National in an interview.
9. 7 – Abu Dhabi Dh13.4m ($3.9m)
An unnamed young Emirati businessman bought plate No 7 in 2016 to celebrate the seven emirates, and because seven is a lucky number.
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Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Genesis G80 2020 5.0-litre Royal Specs
Engine: 5-litre V8
Gearbox: eight-speed automatic
Power: 420hp
Torque: 505Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.4L/100km
Price: Dh260,500
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Empty Words
By Mario Levrero
(Coffee House Press)
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
RESULTS
Light Flyweight (48kg): Alua Balkibekova (KAZ) beat Gulasal Sultonalieva (UZB) by points 4-1.
Flyweight (51kg): Nazym Kyzaibay (KAZ) beat Mary Kom (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (54kg): Dina Zholaman (KAZ) beat Sitora Shogdarova (UZB) 3-2.
Featherweight (57kg): Sitora Turdibekova (UZB) beat Vladislava Kukhta (KAZ) 5-0.
Lightweight (60kg): Rimma Volossenko (KAZ) beat Huswatun Hasanah (INA) KO round-1.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Milana Safronova (KAZ) beat Lalbuatsaihi (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Valentina Khalzova (KAZ) beat Navbakhor Khamidova (UZB) 5-0
Middleweight (75kg): Pooja Rani (IND) beat Mavluda Movlonova (UZB) 5-0.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Farida Sholtay (KAZ) beat Ruzmetova Sokhiba (UZB) 5-0.
Heavyweight (81 kg): Lazzat Kungeibayeva (KAZ) beat Anupama (IND) 3-2.
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Brief scores:
England: 290 & 346
Sri Lanka: 336 & 243
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)
Engine 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch
Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm
Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est)
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The figures behind the event
1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew
2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show
3) 1,000 social distancing stickers
4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
Profile Idealz
Company: Idealz
Founded: January 2018
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Size: (employees): 22
Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Kerb weight: 1580kg
Price: From Dh750k
On sale: via special order
The specs: 2018 Ford Mustang GT
Price, base / as tested: Dh204,750 / Dh241,500
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque: 569Nm @ 4,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.3L / 100km
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The 12 breakaway clubs
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
