Most High Valued Vehicle Number Plates Sold in the UAE

A vehicle licence plate number is just an identity number,  a mandatory requirement for car registration and driving licence. However, for many car enthusiasts it is more than just that, and they would pay a hefty amount to get a personalised or special number plate. 

Owning one of the most expensive number plates in the UAE is a prestige every car enthusiast desires, but few can afford. In the UAE, many car enthusiasts spend millions on unique car number plate to make their car stand out. 

Today, we will go through some of the most expensive licence plates in the UAE sold at auctions organised once or twice a year. 

CATEGORIES OF EXPENSIVE NUMBERS PLATES IN THE UAE 

A 5-digit number plate is generally placed on vehicle’s front and back. However, car enthusiasts have a choice to either go with the conventional number plate or select a one digit or two digit number plate. The number plates with unique or less numbers are usually the most expensive number plates in the UAE. 

The most high-priced licence plates have numbers from 1 to 10. Whereas, numbers starting from 10 to 99 are also quote expensive. Repetitive numbers like 11,22 and 33 are also in-demand. Some car owners also bid for number plates similar to their car model number, for instance, if they have a Ferrari 789, they will bid for a plate number 789. 

Besides, many car enthusiasts bid for plate numbers similar to their birth dates, anniversary or any other special date in their life. 

Therefore, it is commonly noticed that the plate number bid amount often exceeds the car’s price, just to get the favourite number on the licence plate. 

It is also worthwhile to note that single digit vehicle number plates are one of the most highly valued and highly priced plates in the UAE. 

LIST OF SOME OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE NUMBER PLATE IN DUBAI AND ABU DHABI SOLD 

• At the ‘Most Notable Numbers’ charity auction in 2023, the P 7 number plate set the record for being the most expensive plate number ever sold at an auction. The P 7 number plate was sold at a whopping price of AED 55 million. It also became the most expensive number plate in the world.

• At the 110th Open Auction for Distinctive Vehicle Number Plates 2022, the AA 13 was the most expensive plate number in Dubai sold for AED 4.42 million. The same year plate number ‘AA8,’ which was a new number entry, was sold for AED 35 million, marking the highly priced number plate auctioned at the Most Noble Numbers auction. 
• Plate number ‘2’ in Abu Dhabi became the most expensive number plate in Abu Dhabi, as it was sold for 23 million in the year 2022. The number plate ‘2’ was first launched in the year 2017 with a bang, given it symbolises the UAE’s Commemoration Day and National Day, which is December 2nd. This number plate was sold for AED 10 million in 2017. 
• In 2021, plate number AA9 became the second most highly-priced car number plate in the world. It was sold for AED 38 million at the Most Noble Numbers auction. 
• In the year 2016, plate number ‘1’ was the most expensive car number plate sold for AED 18 million in Sharjah. The same year at Emirates Auction in Sharjah, plate number ‘7’ was sold for AED 5 million, which was the highest bid locked. The number ‘7’ symbolises the seven Emirates of the UAE and hence, for being a significant number, car enthusiasts prefer to have this number plate. Moreover, the number plate 7 in Abu Dhabi has been sold for the highest price three times and in 2010, AED 7 million was the highest bid locked for it that year.

• At a 2016 Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Dubai auction, plate number D 5 was sold for AED 33 million. D 5 was marked as the most expensive plate number in Dubai.
• In the year 2015, the highest bid locked was AED 25 million for  the plate number ‘O 9’ in Dubai. 

• The vehicle licence plate number ‘1’ in Abu Dhabi was sold for AED 52 million was the highest amount for the number ‘1’ plate recorded in 2008. As mentioned above, plate number ‘1’  in 2016 was also sold for AED 18 million in Sharjah. 
• At an auction in the year 2007, a bidder bought two most expensive number plates in Abu Dhabi, plate number ‘5’ for AED 25.2 million and plate number ‘7’ for AED 11 million. The price of both number plates was 10 times higher than the price of the cars. 

This was brief on some of the most high-priced number plates sold in the United Arab Emirates at different auctions. The car licence plates are for sure more than a vehicle identification number in the Emirates, as they symbolise the power and position of the car owners holding a distinct number plate. Besides, if your traffic file is open in Dubai, you can also apply for direct purchasing of an auction special plate number via RTA. However, if your vehicle already has a number plate and you want to replace it with a special plate number, you need to first apply for vehicle plate number change through RTA. 

It is not mandatory to have an expensive number plate on your car. You can opt to put a 5-digit plate number. Thus, when buying a used car in the UAE, make sure to get a 5-digit vehicle licence plate number, in case it has a VIP number plate. This is because VIP plates cannot be transferred in your name, until and unless you pay for it. The process of getting number plates for a second-hand vehicle and registration is similar to that of getting a new vehicle plate number registered. However, the process is completed by the buyers themselves. 

Stay tuned to the popular auto blog of the UAE for information on vehicle registration, driving licence application, traffic rules and regulations across all the Emirates.