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.