It’s incredible to witness the intense pursuit of purchasing a piece of metal that, in reality, is worth nothing but is sold for millions of riyals. At first glance, it seems like foolishness and madness beyond comprehension. However, when we hear the perspectives of those obsessed with distinguished car numbers, we realize they have their reasons, and it’s not as we might think.
I met with people who own these numbers, read several articles and books by psychology experts, and even visited the traffic department myself. I now believe that distinguished numbers in our Gulf countries are similar to long-term investments that bring significant financial returns to their owners.
Acquiring distinguished numbers has become a commercial goal for many. No longer is it just about flaunting a unique number on a car; it is also a way for the owner to freeze their funds and sell the number when needed for a higher price than it was purchased. The market for distinguished numbers has become like gold, retaining its value over time and often yielding a profit for its owner.
I recall a friend who bought a three-digit number in the early days when it was offered for ten thousand riyals. The plate was transferred from one car to another for two decades, and when he wanted to get married, he sold the number and used the proceeds to finance his wedding, even covering his honeymoon with the same amount.
My friend’s story illustrates how these numbers can generate significant wealth if they are bought at the right time and for the right price.
Countries like Qatar have recognized this market and organized committees to oversee the buying and selling processes, even holding several auctions annually.
In Qatar, Decision No. 6 of 2012 and Decision No. 106 of 2021 regarding distinguished numbers outline the procedures for selling and owning distinguished vehicle numbers. The traffic department is required to prepare periodic lists of distinguished numbers, approved by a decision of the Minister of Interior.
The law clarifies that distinguished numbers are sold through public auctions, and the buyer must obtain a certificate of ownership in exchange for a specified fee. The owner of a distinguished number can transfer ownership in any manner, provided that the transfer is registered with the traffic department.
The Ministry of Interior has also established the “Distinguished Numbers Committee” to determine prices and procedures related to selling distinguished numbers. If the number’s owner dies without an heir, ownership reverts to the state.
In 2023, the Ministry of Interior launched the Sooum application, which specialises in managing auctions related to goods and properties affiliated with the ministry. It allows users to access various auctions, including distinguished numbers, vehicles, boats, and other goods announced by the Ministry of Interior.
The application has several features, including interactive notifications, automatic bidding, plate suggestions, various purchasing and bidding methods, and the ability for users to log in using their Metrash2 username to facilitate participation in auctions.
The distinction of numbers is limited only to the private category with a white background. Black plates for transport vehicles or motorcycle plates cannot be owned and registered as distinguished numbers with the traffic department.
The Lowha platform, which specializes in providing space to publish and promote distinguished car plates on its website, app, and social media accounts, clarified, “The ownership of the private transport plate—black—can not be transferred from one person to another through the Metrash app; there are other ways to transfer the plate.”
Ali Marwan, a sales manager at a used car dealership, mentioned that this can be done in a roundabout way. The buyer or seller transfers the car’s name to the other, enabling them to switch car plates. Then, the vehicle registration data is updated, and the car’s ownership returns to its original owner, with the traffic department not intervening in this sale and purchase process.
The auctions are not limited to the traffic department alone; numerous platforms organize periodic auctions for selling distinguished numbers, such as Qatar Special Numbers (QSN), GH Numbers, and Triple Zero, among others. Additionally, distinguished number collectors want to profit from the buying and selling processes and from the public’s interest and obsession with these numbers.
I attended an auction in Katara in 2016 organized by Albahie Auctions. Journalist Mohammed Al-Akhdar from Al-Sharq newspaper covered the auction, stating that “11 distinguished plates were sold for a total value of 16 million and 440 thousand riyals.”
Al-Akhdar added that “the highest price was for the three-digit number 411, which was sold for 3 million and 550 thousand riyals. The second highest was the four-digit number 9999, which reached 3 million and 100 thousand riyals, while the three-digit number 776 was sold for 2 million and 610 thousand riyals.”
Away from the commercial side, some believe that certain groups seek to acquire distinguished numbers to gain social prestige or stand out among others. This makes them eager to own these numbers by any means and at any cost. Others turn to these numbers to imitate others, or they believe that owning such numbers will grant them status and respect within society, allowing them to boast about it in front of family and friends.
In an interview with psychologist Raghad Al-Nufai, on the Sabah Al-Saudia show, she defined obsession as “an excessive focus on obtaining something,” adding that if a person suffering from obsession fails to achieve their goal, it may lead to psychological disorders.
Al-Nufai believes that spending large sums for distinction and the love of ownership stems from a person who has an excessive desire to stand out. They seek praise and admiration according to specific standards that will bring them success. This obsession is often acquired from the environment, such as the family and school, as the person needs to satisfy emotional needs not met during childhood. This trait grows with them and becomes more apparent in later stages.
Journalist Sawsan Maher echoes Al-Nufai’s point, noting that this imitation aims to earn praise and admiration from those around them. In her article in Al-Arab newspaper, Maher states that “pathological imitation is blind and continuous, and the person suffering from this type of imitation has a weak personality, lacking self-confidence and abilities. They are often subjected to harsh criticism during their upbringing in childhood, and those abuses remain hidden in both the conscious and unconscious mind. This person tries to imitate personalities well-received in society and accepted by those around them, which is an indirect expression of jealousy, as the target personality receives acceptance that the imitating personality does not.”
The significant issue is that numbers in Qatar are approaching seven digits, and the plate is designed to contain a maximum of six digits. Perhaps letters will be added as in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and then everyone will be required to replace their plates so that all plates are consistent with both numbers and letters, and people’s money will be wasted.
Currently, the traffic department is reusing old car numbers that have been cancelled or scrapped on new cars, meaning the number of cars has not yet reached one million. The same numbers are still circulating among people, but the coming days will reveal a new market and different distinctions. Perhaps enthusiasts of distinguished numbers will be allowed to write whatever they want on their car plates, as is the case in America.
In general, it is evident that no matter how many distinguished numbers a person buys, they will not earn genuine respect unless they prove to be skilled and distinguished in something real, whether in musical performance, literature, endurance, or perseverance. Those who make history are often a minority with overwhelming brilliance.
