The majority of people will not give a second thought to a licence plate number that is typically randomly generated and comes free with their car.
But others would pay millions to acquire special or personalised licence plates and regard them as a statement of individuality or an investment.
Here’s a round-up of the world’s 10 most expensive licence plates, many of which changed hands in the UAE.
1. F1 - Dh167.94m ($45m)
In 2008, car designer Afzal Kahn bought this plate, which was registered in 1904 by Essex County Council in England, for £440,000 ($573,640). He has turned down several multi-million-dollar offers for the plate and is not looking to sell it, “unless there is an absolutely incredible offer”, his website says. It is listed on the number plate supplier website Regtransfers for $45.72 million.
2. MM - Dh89.2m ($18.1m)
Attempting to make its way into the record books as the most expensive sold is the California plate MM, which is on sale for 5,888 ether - currently estimated at Dh89.2m ($18.1m).
This two-character plate is rare not only because it is one of only 35 two-letter plates, but also because the two are the same.
It comes with the added bonus of buying its matching NFT.
3. New York - Dh73.4m ($20m)
The only street-legal 'New York' plate in existence has been with the same family since the 1970s. The unnamed seller posted the plate and the Volvo V70 vehicle attached to which it is attached for sale on luxury classifieds website duPont Registry with a $20m price tag.
4. 1 - Dh52.2m ($14.2m)
In 2008, Abu Dhabi businessman Saeed Khouri paid 50 times the opening Dh1m bid at a charity auction in the emirate. At the time, he said the plate would be for personal use.
5. AA9 - Dh38m ($10.3m)
The AA9 number plate was one of four that were auctioned at the Most Noble Numbers sale in May last year.
The charity auction by Dubai emirate's Roads and Transports Authority was selling rare number plates and mobile numbers to raise money for the 100 Million Meals campaign.
The AA9 plate was sold for Dh38m after some fierce bidding, while three other plates – U31, T38 and E51 – raised Dh6.85m.
6. AA8 - Dh35m ($9.5m)
The AA8 number plate, a new entry to the list, was sold for Dh35m at the Most Noble Numbers auction on Saturday to raise funds for the One Billion Meals campaign.
7. D5 - Dh33m ($8.9m)
In 2016, Dubai-based Indian businessman Balvinder Sahni paid Dh33m for plate D5 at an RTA auction for one of his Rolls-Royce cars.
8. 5 - Dh25.2m ($6.8m)
Emirati businessman Talal Ali Khouri bought the No 5 plate for Dh25.2m at an auction in Abu Dhabi in 2007. He also bought the No 7 plate at the same auction for Dh11m. News agency Wam reported at the time that both plates were worth almost 10 times the value of the luxury cars they were placed on.
9. O9 - 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.
10. 7 - Dh13.4m ($3.9m)
In 2016, an unnamed Emirati businessman bought plate No 7 as he wanted to celebrate the seven emirates – and because it is a lucky number.
The biog
Favourite film: The Notebook
Favourite book: What I know for sure by Oprah Winfrey
Favourite quote: “Social equality is the only basis of human happiness” Nelson Madela. Hometown: Emmen, The Netherlands
Favourite activities: Walking on the beach, eating at restaurants and spending time with friends
Job: Founder and Managing Director of Mawaheb from Beautiful Peopl
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FOOTBALL TEST
Team X 1 Team Y 0
Scorers
Red card
Man of the Match
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
Green ambitions
- Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
- Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
- Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
- Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water
