Dubai RTA number plate auction raises Dh65.7m, with CC44 selling for Dh6.72m
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority raised Dh65.721 million at its 121st open auction of distinguished number plates, where CC44 was the top lot at Dh6.72 million.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) raised Dh65.721 million at its 121st open auction of distinguished vehicle number plates, held on Saturday at Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City. Gulf NewsN “the answer came in the form of Dh65.721 million in total proceeds” Read at Gulf News ↗ The NationalN “The open auction – the 121st organised by the RTA” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 2The auction offered 60 plates across the codes AA, BB, CC, H, U, V, W, X, Y and Z. Gulf NewsN “The auction, held at Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, featured 60 distinguished plates.” Read at Gulf News ↗ The NationalN “60 rare number plates went under the hammer” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 2CC44 fetched the highest price of the night, Dh6.72 million (about $1.8 million), paid by an unnamed bidder, according to The National. Gulf NewsN “the highest price of the night went to CC44, which sold for Dh6.72 million” Read at Gulf News ↗ The NationalN “The major sale to the unnamed bidder proved to be the biggest of the night” Read at The National ↗
Centre · 1BB18 came a close second at Dh6.62 million, about Dh100,000 behind, followed by BB80 at Dh5.9 million and BB117 at Dh1.016 million; Gulf News put the three BB plates together at Dh13.536 million. Gulf NewsN “BB18 sold for Dh6.62 million, BB80 fetched Dh5.9 million and BB117 went for Dh1.016 million”“those three BB plates brought in Dh13.536 million” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 1The RTA said the results reaffirm the success of its open and online auction strategy, which it described as based on neutrality, transparency and equal opportunities, and said buyers value the plates for their symbolic value and personal preference. Gulf NewsN “based on neutrality, transparency and equal opportunities for all participants” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 1The previous auction, the 120th, held on 27 December 2025 at the same venue, raised Dh109 million, the highest total the RTA has achieved; BB12 topped it at Dh9.66 million and 90 plates were sold. Gulf NewsN “it raised Dh109 million, the highest total ever achieved by the RTA”“BB12 headlined that sale with the evening’s top bid of Dh9.66 million” Read at Gulf News ↗
Centre · 1The National added context on record prices: an Emirati bidder paid a record Dh55 million for Dubai's number 7 plate in April 2023 at an auction for the One Billion Meals campaign, beating a 2008 record set by Saeed Al Khouri for the number 1 plate at a charity auction in Abu Dhabi. The NationalN “In April 2023, an Emirati bidder who paid a record Dh55 million for Dubai's number 7 plate at an auction for the One Billion Meals campaign.” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 1The National also reported that the private plate market is growing by about 20 per cent a year, with Dh1.7 billion in transactions over three years according to analysts at the Mazal app, which it said is set to launch as the UAE's first escrow-backed online marketplace for premium vehicles. The NationalN “Dubai’s status-symbol vehicle plate market has seen Dh1.7 billion in transactions, Mazal app data analysts have said.”“The Mazal app will hold buyers’ funds until ownership transfer is confirmed” Read at The National ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets report the auction as a results story led by the CC44 sale; Gulf News stresses the BB plates and the comparison with the record Dh109 million auction, while The National adds market context and the Mazal app.
- Emphasis
- Gulf News: BB plate totals, RTA's transparency statement, previous record auction. The National: unnamed buyer, past record prices, growth of the plate market.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither names the CC44 buyer or gives the total for the 60 plates beyond the headline sum; The National does not carry the RTA's statement.
- Charged language
- “BB plate fever”“lucrative”“dig deep”
- For example
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“What is it about two little letters that makes Dubai’s bidders spending so much?” — Gulf News
“Bidders have shown they are prepared to dig deep to secure premium plates” — The National
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The RTA's 121st auction raised about Dh65.7 million.
- 60 plates were offered at Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City.
- CC44 was the top lot at about Dh6.72 million, followed by BB18, BB80 and BB117.
Where accounts differ
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Digit combinations offered
- Centre
- Gulf News lists two-, three-, four- and five-digit plates; The National lists three, four and five-digit combinations.
Roads and Transport Authority organisation
The RTA says the auction results confirm the success of its open and online auction strategy, based on neutrality, transparency and equal opportunities.
“reaffirm the success of its strategy for open and online auctions” — Gulf News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Dubai’s BB plate fever: Three number plates fetch Dh13.53m while CC44 leads auction at Dh6.72m
Celebratory Colourful results report focused on BB plates and the RTA's account of a transparent auction, set against the previous record sale.
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Distinctive CC44 number plate fetches Dh6.72 million at lucrative Dubai auction
Neutral Results report on CC44 with market background and promotion-like detail on the Mazal marketplace app.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 26 Oct 13:27 First Gulf NewsN Dubai’s BB plate fever: Three number plates fetch Dh13.53m while CC44 leads auction at Dh6.72m
- 27 Oct 06:14 +16h 47m The NationalN Distinctive CC44 number plate fetches Dh6.72 million at lucrative Dubai auction
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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