Emirati grabs #2 plate for Dh10 million at special licence plates auction
Abu Dhabi - In total, over Dh55 million in proceeds was made at the auction of distinguished number plates
Published: Sat 18 Nov 2017, 8:38 PM
Last updated: Sat 18 Nov 2017, 10:42 PM
Emirati businessman Ahmed Al Mazroui won the bid to own the exclusive Abu Dhabi number 2 plate, for a whopping Dh10 million.
"I am very excited and proud to get number 2," he told reporters after the auction of distinguished number plates, on Saturday evening at Emirates Palace. He grabbed the number plate because of it's significance to the nation. "It's the number that signifies the UAE union's creation on December 2," said Al Mazroui. "I'm proud of my country and I want that money to go to charity. This is a Year of Giving and the police will use the money from the sale of number plates to support the poor and needy people."
The Emirati beat several bidders for the coveted plate, which started at Dh5 million. The auction was held by the Abu Dhabi Police and Emirates Auction.
Sixty new distinguished vehicle number plates (Category 1), were up for grabs on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Abu Dhabi Police's founding.
In total, more than Dh55 million was collected as proceeds from the auction.
Staggering Numbers
The most prominent numbers sold at the auction:
* #10 for Dh5.4 m
* #22 for Dh4 m
* #17 for Dh3.3 m
* #60 for Dh3 m
* #200 for Dh1.2 m
* #333 for Dh1.6 m
* #220 for Dh760k
* #161 for Dh900k
* #999 for Dh360k
* #1000 for Dh360k
* #1111 for Dh1.5 m
* #999 for Dh1.m
* #9999 for Dh750k
* #5050 for Dh300k
* #2233 for Dh180k
* #166 for Dh690k
* #660 for Dh670k
* #9090 for Dh200k
* #55555 for Dh850k
* #66666 for Dh700k
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The bidding started with number plate 1957, also the year in which the Abu Dhabi Police was established; and was taken at Dh53,000.
Al Mazroui's prized catch number 2 was among the most distinguished ones at the auction, as the only one-digit licence plate to be sold. Another special number was 11, which went for Dh6.4 million.
Twelve-year-old Khalifa Mohammed Al Mazroui, a Grade 5 student at Zayed Academy, was the youngest person to own a special number plate at the event. His father Mohammed Al Mazroui bought him the 1111 number plate. Khalifa says he will put the plate on his Mercedes, in which he goes to school.
Another Emirati, who bought the number 60 at Dh3 million, told Khaleej Times: "I love special things and fancy number plates.
"There are so many reasons why these plates are important to us. One is they are from the UAE's Capital. And this is the 60th anniversary of the Abu Dhabi Police. We are proud of our force and I have bought this number plate to support the police."
The auction also included five double-digit plates, 15 three-digit plates, 19 four-digit and 17 five-digit plates.
Last year, the exclusive number 1 vanity number plate went for a whopping Dh31 million.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com
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