If you are a car enthusiast crazy about rare number plates, here is an exciting news for you.
Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) will auction rare number plates on March 12 and you will be able to bid for them.
As many as 90 premium plates – including the ‘super number plates’ AA90 and M73 — will go under the hammer at RTA’s 109th open auction.
On offer will be plates of two, three, four and five digits with AA-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-YZ codes.
The auction will take place at the Ritz-Carlton Dubai Hotel at 4.30pm on Saturday.
On Monday, the registrations opened. You can sign up through the www.rta.ae website. You can also register through RTA’s Customer Happiness Centres in Umm Al Ramool, Deira and Al Barsha.
If you forget to register, you can do so at the bidding hall from 2pm on the day of the auction.
Those bidding will have to pay a non-refundable auction fee of Dh120 ($32).
Those who have a traffic file in Dubai and have deposited a Dh25,000 security cheque to RTA will get priority. At the last auction on December 19, 2021, RTA sold 100 plates and raised Dh36.548 million.
Plate Z 31 went for Dh2,820,000 and V10000 for Dh920,000. W500 and O66666 each were auctioned for Dh840,000.
UAE motorists won’t have long to wait to find out whether fuel prices will increase in August, with the Fuel Price Committee set to announce the new rates on Thursday, July 31.
The revised petrol and diesel prices will take effect from August 1.
Will fuel prices go up?
After a welcome price cut in July, the outlook for August is less certain.
Global oil prices initially fell below $70 a barrel earlier this month, raising hopes of another reduction. However, prices have since rebounded sharply, clouding the picture for motorists.
Brent crude briefly climbed above $100 a barrel, while US benchmark WTI rose to nearly us$92. Abu Dhabi’s Murban crude also surged past us$105, reflecting renewed strength in global energy markets.
Because UAE fuel prices are based on average international oil prices over the month, the late-July rally could limit or even reverse last month’s cuts.
Current UAE fuel prices
Motorists are currently paying:
Super 98: Dh3.40 per litre
Special 95: Dh3.29 per litre
E-Plus 91: Dh3.21 per litre
Diesel: Dh3.60 per litre
These rates were introduced in July after global oil prices eased earlier in the summer.
How UAE fuel prices are set
The UAE reviews petrol and diesel prices every month based on average global crude oil and refined fuel prices.
The August rates will be announced on July 31 through official government channels and will come into effect the following day.
Abu Dhabi Police are urging motorists to switch off their engines and take their keys whenever leaving their vehicles, warning that even brief stops can increase the risk of theft, fires and other safety hazards.
The advisory applies to drivers stopping at shops, petrol stations, ATMs or mosques, where some motorists continue to leave vehicles unattended with the engine running.
Police said leaving a running vehicle unattended creates an opportunity for theft and could also lead to mechanical problems or fire-related incidents.
Motorists were also reminded never to leave children, especially infants, inside a running vehicle, describing the practice as a serious threat to their safety.
Traffic laws
Abu Dhabi Police also highlighted that UAE traffic laws prohibit leaving an unattended vehicle with its engine running.
Drivers who fail to comply with traffic rules and official instructions can face a Dh500fine under the Federal Traffic Law.
Authorities urged motorists to adopt safe habits by turning off the engine, removing the key and locking the vehicle every time they step away, no matter how briefly.
Passengers travelling through Dubai International Airport (DXB) can now check if they’re eligible to use Smart Gates before reaching passport control.
Dubai Airports has introduced the new Smart Gates Pre-Eligibility Verification service in partnership with the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) to make immigration faster and reduce waiting times.
How it works
Every improvement at @DXB is designed around the objective of making the journey through the #airport more seamless for our guests.
Developed in collaboration with @GDRFADUBAI, the new Smart Gates Eligibility Pre-Check gives travellers instant confirmation of their Smart Gates… pic.twitter.com/cg8irvnbfY
Travellers can instantly verify their Smart Gate eligibility through the Pocket Flights platform or by scanning QR codes placed across airport terminals and boarding gates.
The service lets passengers know in advance whether they can use the automated passport gates, helping them avoid uncertainty at immigration.
Faster airport experience
Dubai Airports says the new feature is part of its ongoing efforts to streamline passenger journeys and improve the overall airport experience.
By allowing travellers to confirm eligibility before reaching passport control, the airport aims to speed up immigration processing and make travel through DXB more seamless for millions of passengers each year.