Dubai Business Number Plate Buyer Shells Out For Matching Mobile Number

Remember how Indian businessman and Dubai expat Balwinder Sahani spent Dhs33 million for the D 5 reg number plate last year? Well, he’s now spent Dhs4.25 million on a mobile phone number.

That’s right, Sahani spent more than Dhs4 million to nab the number at an auction at the Grand Hyatt on Saturday.

What is the number 058-8888888. Ironically, it’s unlikely that Sahani will be able to actually use the number.

“I can never use this number. I got it in my hands at 8.30pm today and till now, within just 2 hours, I’ve received 1,000 calls,” the owner of RSG International told the Khaleej Times.

Think this is a huge waste of money? Well, hold that thought, as it turns out all money spent by Sahani at the auction will go to charity (with du being a semi-government company).

It seems Sahwani is a bit of a profesh’ collector, as he told Gulf News last year when he bought the famous D 5 number plate (which now adorns a Rolls Royce): “I like collecting unique number plates and I am proud to have got this number. I like number nine and D 5 adds up to nine, so I went for it.”

He also spent Dhs25 million on a O9 plate in 2015. “I have collected 10 number plates so far and I am looking forward to having more. It’s a passion.”