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Winding Road

B1G MN3Y: Vanity Plates Auction Fav in Dubai

Written By: Dustin P. Walsh

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There are few things more pretentious than vanity plates. But, in the United Arab Emirates, they are the ultimate sign of wealth.

There, the lowest digit is tops. The numbers “5” and “7” have already sold at auction for 25 million ($6.75 million) and 11 million ($2.97 million) dirhams, respectively. Next week, the country will hold auction for the paramount of all vanity plates, the number “1” – which is expected to set the record for most expensive license plate in the world.

(More details after the jump)

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

The small country – around the size of Maine – is no stranger to the extravagant and overstuffed prosperity. The country is home to the world’s largest mall, the world’s largest water tower, and, ironically, the world’s largest indoor ski park.

The money from the auctions goes to assist car accident victims – for which they’ve sold 300 plates for a total of $56 million, according to CNN.

+ CNN: UAE goes CR4ZY over license plates (via Jalopnik)

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7 Comments

Steve February 8th, 2008 11:57 AM Link

Ridiculous.

Scratch February 8th, 2008 12:51 PM Link

Someday I hope to be rich enough to waste my fortunes on crap like that.

MJK February 8th, 2008 12:52 PM Link

Ok..tell me WHY we are not drilling oil in Alaska? Maybe we can KEEP some of our money in THIS country?

Caddycrazed February 8th, 2008 2:17 PM Link

It may not be as expensive, but something similar happens in the State of Delaware. It’s estimated that any single digit tag with sell for over $400,000.

hwyhobo February 8th, 2008 8:48 PM Link

Ok..tell me WHY we are not drilling oil in Alaska?

Drilling in Alaska AND building nuclear power stations everywhere.

Why not? Because we keep electing weenies.

Winding Road » Archive » Delaware License Plate Sells for $675,000 February 19th, 2008 8:30 AM Link

[…] scoffed at the idea of the license plate auctions taking place in the United Arab Emirates – the plate number “1” sold for $14.5 […]

Winding Road » Archive » Disastrous 200 Car Accident this Morning on Abu Dhabi Highway March 12th, 2008 9:52 AM Link

[…] 200 cars were involved in the mass pileup on a highway that connects Abu Dhabi with Dubai, when thick morning fog caused motorists driving at full speed to crash in quick succession. The […]

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