Dubai: Charity auction sets new world record for third most expensive car plate number

Iconic single-digit plate number AA8 fetches Dh35 million

Sherouk Zakaria

Published: Sat 16 Apr 2022, 11:07 PM

Last updated: Sun 17 Apr 2022, 10:01 AM

The first ‘Most Noble Numbers’ charity auction, which opened bids on special car plate numbers, and exclusive mobile numbers in Dubai, set a new record of selling the world’s third most expensive car plate number.

The iconic single-digit Dubai plate number, AA8, fetched Dh35 million, coming after the AA9 plate number that was sold at last year’s auction for Dh38 million.

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The auction raised a total of Dh53 million after fierce bidding to support the ‘1 Billion Meals’ campaign, which aims to provide food to vulnerable communities in over 50 countries.

The region’s largest distribution drive secured 340 million meals in the first 15 days of its launch, according to organisers.

Organised by Emirates Auction, in collaboration with Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai (RTA), Etisalat, and du, the auction provided an additional 53 million meals to the needy.

Up for bidding was double-digit Dubai car number plate F55 that was sold off at an impressive Dh4 million. Another car plate — V66 — went for Dh4 million, while Y66 was sold at Dh3.8 million.

Fancy numbers

Etisalat’s Diamond+ mobile number 0549999999 was grabbed at a staggering Dh5 million, while the Diamond numbers 0569999995 was sold at Dh150,000, 0569199999 at Dh75,000, 0569999955 at Dh35,000, and 0565566666 at Dh160,000.

du’s mobile number 0581111113 were sold at Dh140,000; 0589999991 at Dh140,000; 0586666663 at Dh100,000; 0581333333 at Dh145,000; and 0586333333 at Dh200,000.

Another charity auction is set to take place in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, April 20 at Emirates Palace.

Organised by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), the ‘One Billion Meals’ initiative will deliver food parcels in refugee camps, poor areas and crisis-stricken communities in coordination with the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP), the Food Banking Regional Network (FBRN), the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment (MBRCH), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UAE Food Bank, and a number of charity and humanitarian organisations.

Distribution has already begun in Lebanon, India, Egypt, Jordan, Uganda, Angola, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan, as the campaign —an expansion of last year’s ‘100 Million Meals’ drive — aims to develop long-term food projects to empower communities to secure their own meals.

While the curtains went down on the previous campaigns with the end of Ramadan, this year’s campaign will continue until the one-billion mark is reached.

Donation Channels

The public can also donate to the ‘1 Billion Meals’ campaign through the official website: www.1billionmeals.ae or a bank transfer to Emirates NBD account number: AE300260001015333439802. Donors can also opt to donate Dh1 a day through a monthly subscription by sending “Meal” via SMS to 1020 on the du network or 1110 on the Etisalat network.

sherouk@khaleejtimes.com