Plate '1' smashes world record at $14.5m

This week-end at an auction in the United Arab Emirates the number 1 plate was sold for $14.5 million and the businessman who bought it said it was ready to go up to $30 million to buy it.

"Saeed Abdul Ghaffar Khouri, paid Dh52.2 million, more than double the current record, to become the proud new owner of Plate "1" — the ultimate car registration number," announced Abdulla Matar Al Mannaei, Managing Director of Emirates Auction, the official auctioneer for Code 5 distinguished number plate auctions, supported by the General Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police.

The earth-shattering price breaks Emirates Auction’s own record for the most expensive car license plate ever sold. Plate "5" sold for Dh25.2 million in May 2007 - almost 10 ten times the value of the luxury car it adorns. It was snapped up by Abu Dhabi businessman Talal Ali Mohammad Khouri.


"The expectations going in were huge. We were confident of delivering a positive outcome, but the final value exceeds our wildest hopes and dreams,’ Al Mannaei said.

"Today we set not just one, but two records, said Al Mannaei, adding that the auction - the sixth such even organized by Emirates Auction - attracted 750 participants, and generated a record Dh89 million (USD 24.25) from the sale of 90 number plates.

Along with "1," a total of 90 distinguished license plates were sold, including special numbers such as 96, 100, 212, 1111, 2001 and 31313.

Number "5" license plate

Remember that at the end of January we told you about a "F1" license plate sold for $740.000? I thought that was really expensive. Now in the United Arab Emirates a license plate was sold for 25 million dirhams ($6.75 million)! Is not that surprising considering it comes from the UAE, but still!

It all happened during an auction where people battle to own a license plates with the lowest digit. As a result, the numbers "5" and "7" have already been snapped up, sold for 25 million dirhams ($6.75 million) and 11 million dirhams ($2.97 million) respectively.

Next week, the country will put up for auction the mother of all vanity plates: the number "1." It is expected to immediately set a new record for the most expensive plate in the world.

"As low as the number goes, as high the price goes also," said Abdullah Al Mannaei, who runs the license plate auctions in the capital city, Abu Dhabi.

"If it’s a two-digit number, if it’s similar like ’99’ or ’22,’ that goes (for) a higher amount."

F1 license plate bought for $740.000

When it comes about a car you love, you might understand why someone will pay almost $1 million for it, but when you pay this amount of money for a F1 license plate... well, you might have reasons not to agree with the guy! But who am I to tell people what to do with their money, right?

The man who did this is the businessman Afzal Kahn (Kahn Design owner) who paid this week-end £375,000 plus VAT (meaning £440,625 or $873,000) for a F1 license plate, Britain’s most expensive registration.

Previous record was £331,000 for M1, sold by auctioneers Bonhams in July 2006.


The license plate was put on a new Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR, which cost £200,000 less than the number.

It is a 104 years-old registration, and previously was on a £30,000 Volvo S80 used by the council chairman.

"I knew I just had to have it," said Mr Kahn. "I have spent years chasing it. I cannot believe I’ve finally got it. I am privileged to have acquired such a prestigious plate. It’s every man’s dream to have his perfect car with a number plate like this."

The money will be used for charity which aims to raise the standards of young drivers.