Dubai premium number plates fetch a total of Dhs38.21m

The year’s first open auction for premium number plates was held by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai on March 18.

The auction raised Dhs38.21m in total.

RTA offered 90 premium number plates for bidding during the 112th Open Auction comprising two, three, four and five digits of categories, namely AA-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z.

Read: 90 number plates up for grabs at RTA’s auction this March

Best-selling number plates

The highest selling plate number (AA15) sold for Dhs5,220,000 followed by plate number AA20, which was exchanged for Dhs3,780,000.

The first Open Auction for Distinctive Vehicle Number Plates this year held by #RTA at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai on Saturday, March 18, raised AED 38.21 million.
https://t.co/6pqh6VIL3f pic.twitter.com/wZapB3EJqh

— RTA (@rta_dubai) March 20, 2023

Plate number R76 was auctioned for Dhs1,880,000, with plate number Y55555 fetching Dhs1,700,000.

Plate number X6666 sold for Dhs1,320,000.

Transparent process

By offering distinctive licensing plates at open or online auctions, RTA ensures a process based on impartiality, transparency, and equal opportunities among number plate enthusiasts who are keen to acquire such plates through RTA’s auctions.

These premium numbers represent important occasions, symbols, events and milestones in the lives of their respective bidders.

These auctions meet the aspirations and desires of a large segment of the public and are in line with RTA’s initiatives to promote customer satisfaction.

Bidders participating had to deposit a cheque of Dhs25,000, which was returned to unsuccessful bidders.

Successful bidders have to also pay the bid amount within 10 working days, failing which the deposit is confiscated, with the bidder placed on the defaulters’ list.

Additionally, a 5 per cent value-added tax is applied on sold number plates.

In September last year,  Dubai plate number ‘AA 13’ was sold for a massive Dhs4.42m at the 110th open auction held for distinctive vehicle number plates.

Read: Dubai number plate ‘AA 13’ nets Dhs4.42m in auction

Other highlights

In recent news, RTA held events and initiatives to spread happiness amongst the community in celebration of the International Day of Happiness, on March 20.

The first was Mini Happiness Surprises where RTA sent short text messages containing links to obtain rewards such as nol credit, parking credit, and promotional cards usable at metro stations.

The second initiative, Happiness Days Out, was undertaken in partnership with radio stations for spending a full day of entertainment in tourist locations and attractions in Dubai.

The third initiative was Happiness Cards, which distributed 300 Reel Cinema entry cards and gift vouchers from Majid Al Futtaim.

The cards were given to customers by Customer Happiness Centres managers after the completion of transactions.

The fourth initiative was dedicated to honouring Committed Drivers, where the top 10 drivers who completed 10 years free from traffic violations, and were offered cards from Majid Al Futtaim Group.

In addition, RTA announced that it will allocate a dedicated fleet of taxis to exclusively offer e-hail services using specific mechanisms and performance indicators for the service.

Hala will be responsible for promoting the e-hail service by creating new channels geared towards attracting more users and implementing incentive initiatives for drivers.

Read: Dubai taxi e-hail service adoption to reach 80%, says RTA

The initiative was further supported by an in-depth analysis and assessment of Hala, the e-hailing company, to identify the operational network, organisational structure and technological capabilities.

Hala has experienced steady growth since its launch in 2019 in its user base, accounting for 11 per cent of total taxi trips in 2020, increasing to 18 per cent in 2021, and reaching 30 per cent in 2022.

“It is noteworthy that the 11,662 taxis operating in Dubai during the previous year completed 105 million trips,” Mattar Al Tayer, director-general, chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said.