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With the world's most luxurious cars on display at the exclusive PrivatDrive motor show in Abu Dhabi this February, there's no better venue to showcase the much-anticipated license plate number "1".

The World's Top 30 Supercars will make the journey to Abu Dhabi's lavish Emirates Palace for the first time ever from February 2-4, 2008. The exclusive automotive event -- held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan -- will present the latest trends and inventions from the luxury automotive brands.

"The Supercar Show is the perfect setting to show off the one-and-only plate ‘1' before it's gone for good", said Abdullah Matar, Managing Director of Emirates Auction, the official auctioneer for Code 5 distinguished number plates.

Plate "1" is expected to set a new Guinness World Record for the most expensive plate in the world when it goes under the hammer two weeks later at the 'Emirates Auction Golden Auction' on Feb. 16, 2008 at 4 p.m., also at Emirates Palace.

It is only the third one-digit number plate to go on sale in Abu Dhabi, Matar said, adding that Emirates Auction already holds the records for the top six most expensive plates worldwide, followed by a Hong-Kong plate in seventh place.

Plates "5" and "7" sold for Dh25.2 million and Dh11 million each. Both were snapped up by Abu Dhabi businessman Talal Ali Mohammad Khouri. The expectations for Plate "1" are sky high. " Emirates Auction chief Matar said.

Along with "1," a number of other sought-after license plates will be on parade at the show, including special numbers such as 100, 212 and 1111. The auction is organized by Emirates Auction and supported by the General Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police and sponsored by Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Emirates Palace.

The exclusive sneak-peek of the ‘Emirates Auction Golden Auction' is part of Emirates Auction's platinum sponsorship package deal for the PrivatDrive Supercar Show.

Notes and contacts

About Emirates Auctions

Emirates Auctions was established in 2005 by a group of young Emirati leaders. It specializes in running auctions for cars and license plates, real estate, and the industrial and governmental sectors. Emirates Auctions aims to radically change the auction system, using novel bidding systems and Internet technologies to make auctions more interesting, exciting and lucrative.

Emirates Auctions is the official auctioneer for Abu Dhabi's Code 5 distinguished number plates. The pioneering auctioneer is working to structure a thriving primary and secondary number plate market in Abu Dhabi, the UAE and entire Gulf Region.

Another 90 distinguished license plates will go under the hammer at the upcoming ‘Golden Auction' at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi at 4 p.m. on February 16, 2008. The auction is held in collaboration of the General Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police and sponsored by Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Emirates Palace. In addition to the highly-prized Plate "1," the auction will include multiple-digit numbers such as 96, 100, 212, 1111, 2001 and 31313.

About the PrivatDrive Supercar Show

PrivatDrive is the world's most unique and exclusive luxury automobile club, offered on a strictly invitation-only basis. Its PrivatDrive Supercar Show is an exclusive automotive event, open to VIPs and industry insiders only, to present the latest trends and inventions in luxury automotive brands.

The World's Top 30 Supercars will make the journey to Abu Dhabi for the first-ever PrivatDrive Supercar Show to be held from February 2-4, 2008 at Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace. Emirates Auctions is a platinum sponsor of the event.

You can learn more about this press release by visiting - www.emiratesauction.ae

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