SPECIAL NUMBER PLATES ON SALE TO HELP FEED MILLIONS GLOBALLY
▶ Events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai will raise crucial funds for the One Billion Meals campaign
Special car number plates and phone numbers will go under the hammer at charity auctions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai this week in aid of the UAE’s Ramadan food drive.
Car enthusiasts are being invited to bid for premium plates such as the single digit P7 and 10 two-digit plates – including AA19, AA22, O71 and X36 in Dubai. The in-person Most Noble Number event is being held in Dubai on Saturday, with proceeds going to the One Billion Meals Endowment campaign.
It is being organised by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives in partnership with Emirates Auction and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority.
An online auction held by Abu Dhabi Police started yesterday and will run until Monday, with 555 licence plates on offer.
Telecoms operators du and Etisalat will also auction special mobile phone numbers as part of the campaign.
The One Billion Meals Endowment was launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, in line with the generous spirit of the holy month.
It is the latest in a series of food drives held during Ramadan in recent years, but officials are taking a new approach to helping those in need. Instead of donations being spent directly on food parcels, they will go into endowment funds, the financial returns of which will be spent on feeding the needy.
The aim is to ensure the principal sum steadily grows, allowing vital aid to be delivered for years to come.
“The One Billion Meals Endowment campaign launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, is the embodiment of the values of humanity and solidarity with those in need around the world,” said Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the board of the Dubai transport authority.
“RTA is honoured to support this campaign, which has seen a remarkable response from the community and its institutions since day one.
“The Most Noble Number charity auction allows direct support of the campaign, which aims to provide a food safety net for underprivileged communities. We are confident this auction will see a great response as was the case in the past two years during the One Billion Meals and 100 Million Meals campaigns.”
Auctions held across the Emirates – typically offering premium car licence plates and exclusive mobile phone numbers – have helped raise crucial funds for worthy causes in recent years. Dh111 million was raised at an Abu Dhabi auction in April last year held in support of the One Billion Meals campaign.
Abu Dhabi’s exclusive number plate 2 sold for Dh23.3 million at the fundraiser.
Dubai-based real estate boss Hong Yang, 30, from China, bid Dh1.7 million for plate number 999, code 2 at the auction.
An auction in Dubai for the same campaign came close to breaking a global record when Dh35 million was paid for AA8. In total, Dh53 million was raised that night.
The One Billion Meals campaign website has details of options for donors.
Money can be pledged online, either monthly or by a oneoff donation.
Donations can be made by SMS through Etisalat or du, on the DubaiNow app or with a bank transfer.
For large donations and related inquiries, contact 800 9999.
An online auction held by Abu Dhabi Police started yesterday and will run until Monday, with 555 licence plates on offer