Number Plates News

Abu Dhabi Introduces New-Style Registrations

14 February 2011

With a relatively small population and short history of number plates (the first was not issued until 1980), motorists in the United Arab Emirates state, benefit from some smart looking plates. Unlike its neighbours in Dubai, the Abu Dhabi authorities employ just numbers and no letters in their system.

Registrations are grouped in a number of categories, currently indicated in a separate coloured section of the plate. Ten have been assigned so far and there will soon be an eleventh class.

Colonel Suhail Al Khaili, the head of vehicle licensing says, "This category is the second binary category panel to be released, adding, "This number is special as it is a repetition of the number one coinciding with the year 2011."

Introduction of the new '11' category will be achieved in two stages. Firstly for standard-issue registrations and secondly for those sold at public or online auctions, which include the prized one, two or three numeral marks. Proceeds from these events are donated to a special fund to assist victims of traffic accidents and also to support those with special needs.

Col Al Khaili concludes that the new categories are designed to provide "clearer and nicer looking numbers" in addition to meeting the latest specifications of quality standards, providing protection from theft and fraud.