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RTA raises Dh9m through car number plate auction

DUBAI — The 24-year-old UAE national from Sharjah, Salah Yusuf bin Thyab, went to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) 52nd Distinguished Vehicle Numbers Auction in Dubai yesterday simply to raise money for Dubai Cares.

Owner of General Trading, Bin Thyab was the highest bidder at the auction organised in aid of the Dubai Cares campaign at Jumeirah Beach Hotel. He bought the number plate F/196 for Dh300,000.

The auction raised nearly Dh9 million and was added to six weeks’ worth of Salik revenue, equivalent to Dh35 million, donated by RTA.

Bin Thyab’s number 48 bidding card was raised several times during the auction and he also bought F/1221, F/9991, F/7773. In all, he spent Dh523,000 “only because it was for charity.”

His brother, interpreting for him, said he intended to push everyone else’s bid higher to raise more money.

“We don’t make this for show. It’s only to help Dubai Cares,” he said. “We hope it can do something. These numbers, it is small but we believe it can do something.”

Bin Thyab previously spent Dh250,000 at the Abu Dhabi licence plate auction fundraiser for the Red Crescent charity and he only hoped he would have the opportunity to raise more money if Sharjah licence plates are auctioned.

“It will not go for nothing,” he said.

“Some people spend so much money on cars, on gold, on diamonds and some people don’t have water.”

The total of Dh 43.91 million, between the auction and Salik revenues, was donated by RTA according to the directives of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Executive Council, to support Dubai Cares campaign initiated by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

RTA Licensing Department Director Ali Mohammed Al Jasim said the numbers would sell for considerably less in the market but because the auction was in aid of Dubai Cares the bids were high.

As expected, F/196 fetched the highest amount and he said plates with fewer digits often sold for large prices.

“Some numbers are more distinguished,” he said. “Sevens and zeros are more popular.”

Amer Elzein, 40, who bought two numbers yesterday, said he had attended licence plate auctions before but this was the first time he had seen such expensive trading of numbers.

“I can keep these numbers because of the good memories of Dubai Cares,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mashreq CEO Abdul Aziz Al-Ghurair donated Dh22 million, including Dh10 million from AlGhurair Group and ETA Star.

The donation was announced during a meeting in the presence of Shaikh Mayed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Abdul Aziz Al-Ghurair, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC), praised the UAE society for its solidarity towards Dubai Cares.