Dubai: license plate sells for $15 million in charity auction, shattering world record
Dubai: In Dubai, a rare car license plate has been sold for a world-record price of 55 million dirhams ($15 million or ₹ 123 crore) to a wealthy bidder, breaking the previous record set in the United Arab Emirates over ten years ago. The sale of this highly sought-after license plate has made headlines around the world.
During a charitable auction organized by Emirates Auction LLC, plate number P 7 was sold for a staggering 55 million dirhams ($15 million or ₹ 123 crore) on Saturday. The unique license plate appears to show only the number 7, with the letter P situated off to the side. The auction's proceeds will benefit the 1 Billion Meals Endowment, a global food aid initiative led by Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
Charitable auctions of vanity license plates have become a regular occurrence in the UAE, allowing the ultra-wealthy to display their status and affluence while giving back to the community. The most recent auction shattered the previous record set in 2008 by businessman Saeed Abdul Ghaffar Khouri, who spent 52.2 million dirhams on a license plate featuring the number 1 in Abu Dhabi.
The identity of the individual who paid a staggering 55 million dirhams ($15 million or ₹ 123 crore) for the coveted P 7 license plate remains undisclosed.
Not only in the Middle East, but vanity plates have also commanded exorbitant prices elsewhere. Earlier this year, a single-letter "R" plate was sold at an auction in Hong Kong for an eye-watering price of HK$25.5 million ($3.2 million).
Dubai has long been a haven for the super-rich to showcase their affluence and enjoy a tax-free lifestyle. Despite concerns over economic instability in other parts of the world, the emirate's economy continues to thrive, boosted by high oil prices that also benefit neighboring countries and top customers. The influx of wealth has helped bolster the real estate market, making Dubai an even more attractive destination for the wealthy.
Dubai's relatively low sales tax rates compared to other countries have made it possible for even moderately-paid expats to purchase high-end cars. However, the recent pandemic-related economic upswing has led to a surge in rent prices, putting a strain on middle-class residents.
In 2016, businessman Balvinder Singh Sahni, also known as Abu Sabah, bought the license plate D 5 for 33 million dirhams. In an interview on Monday, he described Dubai as a city of gold, big people, secure people, and nice people. According to Abu Sabah, everyone in Dubai wants to showcase their status and affluence, making these unique license plates highly sought after by the elite.
During an interview, Abu Sabah shared an anecdote about his first visit to the luxury hotel Burj Al Arab in 2006. He was denied entry because his car's license plate had too many numbers. The hotel staff informed him that he would need a two-digit license plate or a reservation to gain entry. Abu Sabah always dreamed of owning a single-digit number plate, and when he had the opportunity to purchase D 5, he went all-in, knowing that the proceeds would go to charity. Being a self-proclaimed numbers guy, he explained that the D 5 plate was an ideal fit for him, as his favorite number is nine. He also pointed out that by adding D (the fourth letter of the alphabet) with five, you get nine.
At the time of reporting, there had been no response from the Guinness World Records to a request for comment.
Unlike some other exclusive license plates, the plate that was sold over the weekend can be transferred to any vehicle registered in the emirate, regardless of whether it's a supercar or not.
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Kerala becomes first state to mandate robotics education for all class 10 students
Thiruvananthapuram, May 18 (PTI): In a pioneering initiative, Kerala has emerged as the first state in the country to make robotics education mandatory for all 4.3 lakh students of class 10, starting from the upcoming academic year on June 2.
The integration of robotics into the tenth-grade ICT textbook, specifically the sixth chapter titled "The World of Robots" in the first volume, will empower students to explore fundamental robotics concepts through engaging activities, an official statement said on Sunday.
These include circuit construction, utilising sensors and actuators, and controlling electronic devices using computer programming, K Anvar Sadath, CEO of KITE and Chairman of the ICT Textbook Committee, said in a statement.
KITE is the technical arm of the General Education Department of the Kerala government.
It has already distributed 29,000 robotic kits to high schools across the state to ensure the effective implementation of this curriculum.
"This ambitious initiative builds upon Kerala's prior success in making Artificial Intelligence (AI) learning accessible to all seventh-grade students, another national first achieved in the previous academic year," Sadath said.
Demonstrating a continued commitment to future-ready skills, AI learning has now been incorporated into the ICT textbooks for grades 8, 9, and 10 as well.
The practical experience gained from the robotics curriculum piloted for Little KITEs (Kerala's IT club for students) has been instrumental in shaping this comprehensive rollout for all class 10 students, the statement further said.
The initial hands-on activity in the textbook challenges students to utilise components from the provided robotic kits – such as Arduino breadboards, IR sensors, servo motors, and jumper wires – to construct an automated sanitiser dispenser that activates upon detecting a hand, it said.
Progressing further, students will also delve into creating AI-powered smart home automation systems, including face-recognition-enabled smart doors.
To facilitate this, they will utilize the 'Face Detection Built-in Model' within the Pictoblocks software's programming IDE, leveraging webcams on laptops and Arduino kits supplied by KITE to program door-opening mechanisms.
KITE's innovative robotics learning approach is designed to equip students with the skills to address a wide range of practical problems through cutting-edge technologies.
KITE has already conducted the first phase of training on the new tenth-grade ICT textbook for 9,924 teachers.
Sadath said dedicated robotics training for teachers will be organised in July.
Furthermore, KITE will ensure the availability of additional robotic kits, extending support to unaided schools following the state syllabus that may require them.
The ICT textbook is being provided to all students in Malayalam, English, Tamil, and Kannada mediums, the official added in the statement.
