Fourth number plate auction raises Dh3.8m

The four auctions of Dubai car number plates have fetched a total of almost Dh57 million, and the proceeds from the fourth auction yesterday reaching Dh3.8 million. All revenues from the auctions go to the Dubai Government General Fund, said Brig. Abdul Rahman Rafee, Director of the Traffic Department and manager of the auctions.

For the first time in the auctions, the highest bid yesterday was made by an expatriate. Suresh Khemaney, an Indian businessman, bought number 1111 for Dh285,000. A few expatriates took part in previous auctions, but quit when the bidding went way beyond their resources.

Yesterday, 27 number plates were auctioned in three groups. The first group was numbers 110, 220, up to 990 with a reserve price of Dh200,000. The second group comprised four matching digits such as 1111, 2222, up to 9999, with a reserve price of Dh110,000. The third group was the thousands - 1000, 2000, up to 9000 - with a reserve price of Dh100,000.

Khemaney said he had bought the number for his personal use. He may buy other numbers in subsequent auctions. The second highest bid was also by an expatriate. Abbas Bagheri of Iran, a manager in a gas retailer, closed the bidding for number plate 7777 at Dh220,000. He also bought number 110 for Dh200,000, the sixth highest bid for a number plate sold yesterday.

He said his purchase was for personal use and as an investment. He drives a Range Rover and will buy a Mercedes. Number 4444 was sold for the auction's third highest bid, Dh215,000. In fourth place was 5555 at Dh210,000; the fifth highest amount paid was Dh205,000 for 3333.

The seventh highest amount was Dh195,000 for number 8888; the eighth highest Dh185,000 for 2222 as well as 1000; the ninth highest Dh180,000 for 330 and the tenth highest for 9999 at Dh175,000. Yesterday, some participants bid through the Internet. Number 2000 was bought for Dh110,000 via the net.

"This was the third number plate sold through the Internet in all the auctions," Rafee said. "Some of the buyers asked officers assisting in running the auction for immediate registration of the number plates they had bought. Demonstrating that Dubai Police have implemented the e-government initiative, the registration was processed through the Internet immediately and the number plates were fixed on their cars outside the club," he said.

Number 220 was sold for Dh170,000; 440, 550, 770 for Dh135,000 each; and 660, 880, 990 for Dh125,000 each. Ibrahim Al Mulla said that the auction requires more advertising to attract more participants. Al Mulla bought 440 and 990, one for himself and the other for a friend.

Number 6666 sold for Dh140,000, while 3000, 7000, and 9000 sold for Dh105,000 each. However, numbers 4000, 5000, 6000 and 8000 attracted no bids. "They will be re-auctioned. There could be some people interested in those numbers, some who had registered to take part in the auction but failed to come."

Yesterday's auction was the last to be held on a Thursday. "We will not hold any more auctions on Thursdays as it has proved inconvenient for the participants." Rafee said.