$14.3 Million For Abu Dhabi Car Number Plate "1"

A man named Said Abdul Ghafour Khouri has agreed to pay AED 52.2 Million (US $14.3 Million) for Abu Dhabi license plate labeled "1" at an auction at the 7-star Emirates Palace Hotel here, making it the world's most expensive license plate .

The previous record was held by Abu Dhabi plate number 5 , bought at auction for $6.8 million by stock broker Talal Khouri last year.

"Recession really doesn't affect the Emiratis! - Not that I have anything against them, just a little envious of how the UAE has always protected it's citizens.

And wish that the Politicians forming the Government of India, could do something other than fleecing the Indian public in the name of taxes and making secret Swiss bank accounts that amount in millions of dollars. (i.e. millions accumulated from loyal Indian tax payers)"

NOTE by samuraisam: As pointed out in the comments by Neil Roberts this story is more than 2 years old and hasn't taken place during the Haiti earthquake

Sheikh Mohammed speaks out

It's a very rare thing indeed to hear the man speak. And when he does, it's worth a listen. An Embiz24/7 special covers the entire online interview with the press held on Saturday, as well as report on the current crisis:

"I believe that no preventive measures, neither in the UAE nor any other country in the world, would have provided the desired immunity from the ramifications of the global financial meltdown...Our position is far better than other countries, and encouraging economic indicators have just started to emerge."

I personally think this a step in the right direction, considering the recent barrage of articles on the 'dark side' of Dubai.

Oh, as a side note, he also says there's no income taxes anytime soon. Yeay.