Who will be the new "Number 1"? And what will it cost to get there? All will be revealed in four days and counting. Plate "1" is expected to set a new Guinness World Record for the most expensive car license plate in the world when it goes under the hammer at the much-anticipated auction organized by Emirates Auction on Saturday Feb. 16, 2008 at 4 p.m. at Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi."The expectations for Plate ‘1' are sky high," said 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.
"It's the one-and-only plate number 1, and we are confident that we will set a new record," Al Mannaei said, adding that Emirates Auction has registered with Guinness World Records and will supply them the required material to issue the certificate if the record is broken.
The record-breaking event is creating an international media storm -- CNN's coverage was the top downloaded video from their website the weekend of Feb. 1, 2008.
"We wish Emirates Auction all the best with the Number '1'", said Damian Lawson, Auctions Marketing Manager for the UK's Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), the government agency which sells personalized plates in Britain. "They have taken the sale of registration numbers into a different league!"
Emirates Auction already holds the records for the top six most expensive plates worldwide. Plate "1" is only the third one-digit number plate to go on sale so far, and by far the most prestigious.
Plates "5" and "7" sold for Dh25.2 million and Dh11 million in 2007 - almost 10 ten times the value of the luxury cars they now adorn. Both were snapped up by Abu Dhabi businessman Talal Ali Mohammad Khouri, who has signaled his participation in the upcoming auction to media outlets.
"In a short period of time, Emirates Auction has grown to be a leader in the Gulf Region's auction industry," said Tommy Williams, President of the U.S.-based National Auctioneers Association (NAA), one of the largest trade associations for auctioneers. "The quality and professionalism of their work can be witnessed by the remarkable returns of their auctions," Williams added.
The last five auctions raised $56 million from 393 plates, which went towards the support of special needs projects and victims of road accidents. All proceeds from this auction will go towards building a national rehabilitation centre for traffic accident victims -- the first of its kind in the UAE. It will be run along the lines of the most advanced rehabilitation centers in the world and will provide physiotherapy, and other medical, psychological, social, occupational and recreational support.
Along with "1," a total of 90 distinguished license plates will be on offer at the Feb.16 auction including special numbers such as 96, 100, 212, 1111, 2001 and 31313. The auction is organized by Emirates Auction on behalf of the General Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police and sponsored by Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Emirates Palace.
"With a number plate this prestigious, it is bound to bring a lot of attention," said Satwinder Singh, the Operations Director of Emirates Auction. "There is a lot of international interest in the number and we are expecting twice the attendance for this auction compared to earlier auctions."
"There are a lot of people who would like to be there, in person, and see the price war for Number 1. At the same time, we have made arrangements for auction participants who would like to maintain their privacy and bid anonymously," Singh added.
Notes and contacts
About Emirates Auction
Emirates Auctions was established in 2005 by a group of young Emirati leaders. It specializes in running auctions for cars, license plates and real estate for the industrial and government sectors. Emirates Auctions is a member of the National Auctioneers Association, the world's largest professional association focused solely on the auctioneering profession.
Emirates Auctions is the official auctioneer for Abu Dhabi's Code 5 distinguished number plates. The pioneering auctioneer is working to structure a thriving primary and secondary number plate market in Abu Dhabi, the UAE and entire Gulf Region.
