A UAE auction of unique two-digit phone numbers has attracted bids of up to Dh200,000 ($54,458).
Telecommunications company Etisalat is offering shortened phone numbers with hashtags that act as the user's unique identity.
Lots going under the hammer on the Emirates Auction website include #10, #1234, #11 and #55555.
More than 350 online bids have so far been lodged on the 40 numbers on offer.
The price will cover use of the number for 12 months, with monthly rental charges also to be applied.
Only Etisalat customers with post-paid numbers can subscribe to the service.
The most popular number so far is #10 ― the lowest available ― with a top bid of Dh200,000 out of 26 offers, ahead of #11 at Dh113,000 from 21 bids.
The number #1000000 has had the most individual bids so far, at 44, with a high offer of Dh45,500.
Another number catching the eye of phone users is #1000, with 30 bids, the largest of which is Dh31,000.
People can bid online until 8pm on June 22.
“The service is a premium value-added service which allows an Etisalat mobile post-paid customer to subscribe to a unique identity (a ‘#TAG’) and have a right to use #TAG as per this agreement,” it said on the Emirates Auction website.
“Such a #TAG allows the customer to be called by dialling the customer’s #TAG instead of dialling the customer’s 10-digit mobile number.”
The number cannot be transferred to another person and the cost will not be refunded if the customer wants to terminate the service.
Once the number is activated, the customer may not receive calls from non-Etisalat callers for up to five business days, as other telecom operators will have to configure their settings.
The subscriber will be able to receive only local calls because the service is not compatible with international operators or from customers using roaming.
Latest auction is a hit
The success of the auction comes as little surprise, given the popularity of car number plate auctions regularly held in the UAE.
In April, Abu Dhabi's exclusive "2" car number plate sold for Dh23.3 million ($6.3m) at a charity auction for a global free meals campaign.
A total of Dh111m was raised for rare licence plates as well as exclusive mobile phone numbers.
Proceeds from the Most Noble Numbers event went to the One Billion Meals initiative to provide food for people in need in 50 countries during Ramadan and beyond.
Top 10 Etisalat number bids
#10 – Dh200,000 (current high bid)
#11 - Dh113,000
#55 - Dh94,000
#99 - Dh91,000
#22 - Dh91,000
#50 - Dh73,000
#69 - Dh71,000
#90 - Dh71,000
#333 - Dh61,000
#55555 - Dh55,000
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
RESULT
Huddersfield Town 2 Manchester United 1
Huddersfield: Mooy (28'), Depoitre (33')
Manchester United: Rashford (78')
Man of the Match: Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town)
Results
1. New Zealand Daniel Meech – Fine (name of horse), Richard Gardner – Calisto, Bruce Goodin - Backatorps Danny V, Samantha McIntosh – Check In. Team total First round: 200.22; Second round: 201.75 – Penalties 12 (jump-off 40.16 seconds) Prize €64,000
2. Ireland Cameron Hanley – Aiyetoro, David Simpson – Keoki, Paul Kennedy – Cartown Danger Mouse, Shane Breen – Laith. Team total 200.25/202.84 – P 12 (jump-off 51.79 – P17) Prize €40,000
3. Italy Luca Maria Moneta – Connery, Luca Coata – Crandessa, Simone Coata – Dardonge, Natale Chiaudani – Almero. Team total 130.82/198.-4 – P20. Prize €32,000
Results
ATP Dubai Championships on Monday (x indicates seed):
First round
Roger Federer (SUI x2) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Marton Fucsovics (HUN) bt Damir Dzumhur (BIH) 6-1, 7-6 (7/5)
Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) bt Karen Khachanov (RUS x4) 6-4, 6-1
Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) bt Milos Raonic (CAN x7) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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