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Abu Dhabi: A prominent businessman paid Dh4.5 million for the most sought after car plate No 10 in the fifth auction conducted by Abu Dhabi Police yesterday at the Emirates Palace Hotel.
The businessman, Talal Ali M. Khouri, Chairman of Al Awael Holdings, also bid for the plate numbers with the highest prices during the last two auctions.
Yesterday, he also bought two other numbers, 54 (for Dh 1.75 million) and 98 (for Dh 1.55 million).
Yesterday's auction generated Dh32.9 million from 100 number plates. The cash will go to charity, said Lieutenant Colonel Abdul Rahman M.Ali Al Kamali, Director of Administration of Privatisation and Financial Investments at the Ministry of Interior.
"No. 57, which symbolises the year Abu Dhabi Police began will be the major attraction next time. The date, venue and further details will be announced next week," said Kamali.
World record
Asides from numbers 10, 54 and 98, four other numbers were sold for more than Dh1 million each. Number 33 was sold for Dh2.85 million and number 65 for Dh2.7 million. Number 46 was sold for Dh1.85 million and 82 for Dh1.6 million.
The auction has also set a Guinness World Record, a senior official told Gulf News.
"Number five, which was bought by Khouri for Dh25 million in the third auction is the most expensive number plate in the world," said Abdullah Mattar, Managing Director of Emirates Auction.
"We received the official certificate from the The Guinness Book of Records in this regard recently."
Khouri told Gulf News he takes part in the auction to encourage others to spend money for a good cause as all the proceeds from the auction go to charity.
"I am not at all interested in the prestige carried by the numbers," he said.
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