Sharjah car plate fetches Dh18m in fierce bidding at landmark auction in emirate

  SHARJAH – Following fierce bidding in the UAE's biggest auction, car plate number 1 sold for Dh18 million in Sharjah. In a matter of minutes, the bids leaped from Dh1 million to Dh18 million at auction on Saturday, which drew 1,340 bidders. The coveted number plate went to Arif Ahmad Al Zarouni, who said he was determined to purchase the plate regardless of the price. “I attended the licence plate auction only to win Number 1. My ambition is always to be number 1. I have no plan to win other numbers,” the Emirati businessman said. He said that the car number plate will be for his personal use. Sixty distinguished licence plates were sold at the auction, which generated more than Dh50 million. Special numbers included 12, which fetched Dh2,070,000. Plate number 22 sold for Dh2,080,000 while plate number 50 was sold for  Dh1,900,000. Car number plates 100 and 333 fetched Dh1.5 million each. MFD/Expat Media