Highest single-digit number up for grabs at Saturday's Auction

Another 93/699 distinguished license plates go under the hammer at this Saturday's number plate auction in Abu Dhabi, including the highest single-digit number 9, a series of 69-ers, and 50 "special request" plates.

The much sought-after "9" is the fourth single-digit number to go under the hammer. Plate "9" holds the record for the most expensive license plate sold in Hong Kong. It was snapped up by tycoon Albert Yeung for HK$13 million (Dh 6 million) in 1994.

"Our one-digit plates are running out quickly," said Abdulla Matar Al Mannaei, the Managing Director of Emirates Auction. "We expect the highest single-digit number 9 to sell for more than Plate 6," he added.

Plate 6 sold for Dh 15.3 Million Dirhams in April 2008.

Saturday's auction will also feature variations on the hit number "69" after Plate "6969" sold for AED 500,000 - higher than expected - last month. The 69-themed numbers on auction this month include 669, 699, 6669, 9669, 69666 and 66999.

The auction will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. at Ittihad Ballroom, Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. It is organized by the world-renown Emirates Auction on behalf of the General Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police and sponsored by Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Emirates Palace.

Al Mannaei said that half the plates in Saturday's auction were chosen by customers through Emirates Auction's 'Auction Alert' service.

"We have included 50 plates that were specifically requested by interested buyers. So we expect a lot of excitement and action this time," Mannaei said.

To date, a total of more than $105 million USD has been raised from the sale of 683 plates in eight auctions, with proceeds going towards building a world-class emergency and trauma care center for victims of road accidents and other debilitating conditions, announced by H.H. Major-General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's Minister of Interior.

Emirates Auction sold the most expensive license plate in the world - Plate "1" - at its Feb. 16 auction FOR AED 52.2 million, smashing the previous Guinness World Record by more than double! Emirates Auction, the official auctioneer for Abu Dhabi's Code 5 distinguished number plates, also holds the records for the top nine most expensive plates sold worldwide. WAM

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Number plate 13 fetches Dh4.25 mln in auction

Against all expectations, the car plate number 13 fetched a record price of Dh4.25 million for a double-digit number in the auction of distinguished numbers, organised by the Abu Dhabi Police in collaboration with Emirates Auctions on Saturday. The number was bought by Emirati businessman Mohamed Hamdan Khoury.

The auction of 100 distinguished car plate numbers raked in Dh33.5 million. The second highest price of 3.15 million was offered for number 95, followed by number 79 which was sold for Dh3 million, and number 83 for Dh2.95 million.

Khoury, who has bought 17 other numbers in previous auctions, among them 13 number plates in one auction, said that he was determined to buy the leading number of the auction and put it on his vehicle, as he stressed that his participation in the auctions comes from his desire to contribute to the humanitarian project announced by the Minister of Interior, Lt-Gen. Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for rehabilitation victims of road accidents.

Khoury added that he would distribute a number of his distinguished car plate numbers to the members of his family.

Apart from number 13, Khoury bought other three numbers - 106, 442 and 370 for around Dh1.5 millions.

Triple digit 567 was sold for Dh410,000, 106 for Dh610,000, 413 for Dh310,000, 313 for Dh630,000, 366 for Dh420,000, 771 for Dh400,000, 531 for Dh290,000, 442 for Dh410,000, 370 for Dh400,000, 484 for Dh480,000, 910 for Dh320,000, 817 for Dh300,000, 940 for Dh310,000, 383 for Dh320,000, 595 for Dh440,000, and 744 for Dh360,000.

In the five-digit category, 90909 was sold for Dh255,000, followed by 11311 for Dh130,000. Source

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'Unlucky' 13 goes under hammer at Abu Dhabi Police auction

Special number plate 13 is among 100 plates to go under the hammer during Saturday's licence plate auction, an Emirates Auction representative said.

Plate numbers 10, 11 and 12 have already been sold so 13 is the only one left among the lowest two digit numbers, said Abdullah Mattar Al Mannaei, managing director, Emirates Auction, which is organising the event on behalf of the General Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police.

"Although number 13 is considered 'unlucky' by some, many people may like the number due to various other reasons."

It is the first auction after licence number plate 1 fetched Dh52.2 million breaking the world record as the most expensive plate and making headlines worldwide.
Asides from number 13, other distinguished plates such as 595, 737, 3131, 6699 and 90909 will be going under the hammer at the event at the Emirates Palace Hotel.

Something for everyone

"This auction will have something for everyone, as we have kept the reserve prices as low as Dh5,000 so that everybody interested in number plates can come and participate," said Lieutenant Colonel Abdul Rahman Al Kamali, a senior Ministry of Interior official.

Al Mannaei invited the public to request their favourite licence plates through the company's Auction Alert service.

"People can visit our website and enter the number plates they are interested in, and we will do our best to include them in the coming auctions," he said.

Plate enthusiasts can also receive updates by e-mail and SMS informing them as to when their favourite numbers are up for auction.

Emirates Auction holds the record for the top seven most expensive plates worldwide. Their last auction attracted 750 participants and generated a record $24 million (Dh89 million) from the sale of 90 number plates.

To date, a total of $80 million has been raised from the sale of 483 plates in six auctions, with all proceeds going to support special needs projects and victims of road accidents. Source

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"1" number plate fetches AED 52 m, enters Guinness Book

The most sought after car number plate in Abu Dhabi was auctioned today at the Abu Dhabi Palace Hotel for AED 52.2 million, entering the Guinness World Records as the 'most expensive number plate'.

The (1) number plate was sold to Emarati businessman Saeed Abdul Ghafar Khouri who managed to break the record held by his compatriot Talal Khouri for buying the number (5) for AED 25 million.

He insisted on bidding for the number despite fierce competition. This he did in response to Minister of Interior Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s announcement that the revenues of the auction would be used for establishing a centre for the rehabilitation of accident victims.
He said he will not sell the number plate 1.

A total of 90 car plate numbers auctioned last night yielded Dh89 million.
Number plate 1111 was sold for Dh2.32 million, number 96 for Dh2.5 million, number 32 for Dh2.5 million, number 100 for Dh2.82 million, number 51 for Dh2.15, number 78 for Dh2.04 million, and number 81 for Dh2 million.

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The number plate auction could beat all records

Preparations are on in full swing to conduct the auction of the most coveted single car registration number 1 next Saturday.

Lt-Col. Abdul Rahman Al Kamali, Director of Abu Dhabi Police’s Department for Privatisation and Financial Investment, met with the sub-committees and stakeholders to review arrangements being made for the auction.

“A number of most distinguished numbers, including the single digit no 1, will go under the hammer,” he added, noting that his department had been flooded with calls from the potential bidders inquiring about details of the auction.

He expected the auction to see hot competition as it draws overwhelming interest from a cross-section of bidders from various nationalities.

He disclosed that international TV channels had arrived in the country to cover the exciting event, which will be the cynosure of local, and Arab TV networks.

“A team from the Guinness Book of World Records was already here to follow up the auction. A new world record is expected to be broken, beating the record sale registered in the special fifth digit auction held recently in Abu Dhabi,” he indicated.

“Bidding on number 1 is expected to be exceptionally tough,” he said.Technorati Profile Source

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