This past weekend, Emirates Auctions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) made history by selling the world’s most expensive number plate to date, which went for a staggering 55 million dirhem (R276 million).
The plate is simply numbered “P7″ and was responsible for over half the proceeds of the “Most Noble Numbers” auction that raked in around Dh100 million (R501 million) on the eve of 8 April 2023.
During the event, P7 sat proudly on the nose of a Bugatti Chiron, signifying its status in the lucrative realm of Dubai vanity plates.
The auction house broke the news via its social pages, writing “We are proud to announce that the “Most Noble Numbers” charity auction organized by Emirates Auction has set a new world record and entered the Guinness Book of Records!”
“Plate number P7 was sold for a whopping 55 million dirhem, making it the most expensive number in the world.”
Proceeds from the profitable auction are going towards supporting the “1 Billion Meals Endowment” campaign, which aims to establish the largest Ramadan sustainable food aid endowment fund on the planet.
مزاد أنبل الخيري الذي نظمته الإمارات للمزادات يسجل رقما قياسيا جديدا على مستوى العالم ويدخل موسوعة جينيس للأرقام القياسية، ببيعه رقم اللوحة p7، بـ55مليون درهم ليصبح بذلك أغلى رقم في العالم، والذي سيعود ريعه كاملا لدعم جهود حملة “وقف المليار وجبة” pic.twitter.com/jo4M0DNmdi
— Emirates Auction الامارات للمزادات (@emiratesauction) April 8, 2023
7 ate 1
P7 broke a world record that stood for over 15 years, a crown that was previously held by a plate that only bore the number 1 and sold in 2008 for Dh52.2 million – about R260 million at today’s exchange rates.
Bids for the unique identifier started from an already-hefty reserve of Dh15 million (R75 million), and within seconds shot up to over Dh30 million (R150 million), but then plateaued at Dh35 million (R175 million) for several minutes, reported Dubai-based Khaleej Times.
Suddenly, however, offers started flying in from all directions and as they rose, the auctioneer said “Sixteen years ago, a world record was set in Abu Dhabi when a number plate was sold for Dh52.5 million. Will we set a new world record?”
The high-rolling attendees rose to the occasion and by the end of the night, bidder number 7 who “wished to remain anonymous” took home prized plate number P7 for an eye-watering Dh55 million (R276 million).
While a world record-breaking lot wasn’t expected, Emirates Auctions was still ready for it as moments after the hammer fell and the sold announcement was made, the stage erupted with explosions of confetti and sparklers while participants crowded around the winning bidder.
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