One

The price of private number plates climbed to crazy new heights today when a wealthy Arab bought the registration “1” - for a record £7milion.

“I bought it because it’s the best number,” said Saeed Khouri, a member of a prominent Abu Dhabi family that made its fortune in property.

“I bought it because I want to be the best in the world.”

Khouri refused to reveal how many cars he owned and which one of them will carry the record-breaking single digit plate.

The reg is one of a series of unique number plates which the United Arab Emirates state auctioneers in this oil-rich Gulf country began auctioning off since last May.

But unlike ordinary car plates issued to drivers here and most other vanity series plates which carry both Arabic and Western numerals and script, defining the issuing city and country, Khouri’s plate had only the Western numeral and no letters.

The record sale surpassed that of its predecessor, an Emirate license plate that had just “5” on it - also no Arabic numerals or letters, after Talal Khouri, who is no relation to Saeed, plopped down £3.4million for it at an earlier auction, the plate adorned his prized Rolls-Royce

The reg is one of a series of unique number plates which the United Arab Emirates began auctioning off since last May.