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Dubai Number Plate Sells for Record $14.9 Million at Auction

Expensive car plate broke a record at a charity auction (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Expensive car plate broke a record at a charity auction (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Dubai Number Plate Sells for Record $14.9 Million at Auction

Expensive car plate broke a record at a charity auction (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Expensive car plate broke a record at a charity auction (Asharq Al-Awsat)

A Dubai charity auction dedicated to support the inauguration of a Ramadan sustainable food aid endowment fund raised Dh97.9 million ($26.6 million).

The auction hit a record by selling the ‘P 7’ plate, the most expensive license plate in the world for Dh55 million ($14.9 million), breaking the former record of Dh52.2 million ($14.2 million).

Dubai's “Most Noble Numbers” charity auction for special numbers, held on April 8, and whose proceeds will go to the One Billion Meals campaign, managed to sell 35 special numbers including 14 license plates, 10 Du phone numbers, and 11 Etisalat phone numbers.

The proceeds from the auction will go to the “One Billion Meals" campaign aimed at finding sustainable solutions for hunger and malnutrition in vulnerable communities, and to implement targeted programs, projects and initiatives within systematic plans and specific targets to eradicate hunger.

The charitable bids on vehicle plate numbers hit a total of Dh91.5 million ($24.9 million), and the Etisalat phone numbers raised about Dh3.3 million ($904,500), while Du numbers amounted to Dh3 million ($818,800).

According to the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, the “Most Noble Numbers” charity auction supporting the One Billion Meals campaign, offers philanthropists an innovative opportunity during the Holy Month of Ramadan to contribute to establishing a food safety network that starts in the UAE and serves the vulnerable categories in unfortunate communities.

The One Billion Meals campaign, held under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation, aims to revive the endowment as a development tool for societies, ensure the sustainability of giving, and contribute to global hunger eradication efforts, considered one of the most significant development goals.

Alongside the charity auction, the One Billion Meals campaign has five other contribution outlets: the official website, call center, shareholding in the endowment, and bank transfers. The campaign also receives donations via text messages.

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EU Countries Take 1st Step to Weaken Protected Status of Wolves

A young wolf stands in the enclosure of the Falkenstein National Park Center. Armin Weigel/dpa
A young wolf stands in the enclosure of the Falkenstein National Park Center. Armin Weigel/dpa
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EU Countries Take 1st Step to Weaken Protected Status of Wolves

A young wolf stands in the enclosure of the Falkenstein National Park Center. Armin Weigel/dpa
A young wolf stands in the enclosure of the Falkenstein National Park Center. Armin Weigel/dpa

Safeguards to protect wolves in the European Union could be weakened in future after member states agreed on Wednesday on the first steps towards easing these measures.

Weakening the protection of wolves aims to facilitate the culling of those deemed a threat to livestock.

Until now, wolves have been highly protected in Europe. In some regions, however, people question whether the status quo is still justified as the number of wolves is growing, dpa reported.

The wolf's protection in the EU is tied to the 1979 Bern Convention, the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats.

EU ambassadors in Brussels agreed to propose a change to the body in charge of the wildlife protection treaty, EU diplomats told dpa.

Amending the Bern Convention is a first step which could pave the way for the European Commission to propose EU legislation to change the protected status of the wolf at a later stage.

The wolf's comeback in Europe is highly controversial.

Currently, wolves receive strict protection status under EU law with provisions allowing for local authorities to take action, including shooting wolves in case of conflicts with rural communities and farmers.

While some EU countries, including Germany and France, are in favor of easier culling, nature conservation groups campaign for different approaches, like better herd surveillance, night confinement and more guard dogs.

Having been extinct in large parts of Europe until the 1960s, there are currently around 19,000 wolves in the EU, according to conservationists.