You can buy a number plate in the UAE in four ways: directly from the government of your emirate, at a government auction, through Emirates Auction, or from an owner selling a plate they already hold. Which one suits you depends on the emirate and on how rare a number you want. Whichever route you take, the plate only becomes yours once the transfer is registered with that emirate's traffic authority.
This guide covers all seven emirates, the real fees published by the RTA and by Emirates Auction, and live asking prices from the number plates listed on CarsClub. If you are buying in Dubai and want the full step by step, read our Dubai number plates guide alongside this one.
The four ways to buy a number plate
| Route | Who sells | How the price is set | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government direct sale | The traffic authority (the RTA in Dubai) | Fixed price from the authority's list | An everyday number with no waiting for an auction |
| Government auction | The RTA, online or in a hall | Bidding, from AED 1,000 in open auctions | Rare 2 and 3 digit numbers and special codes |
| Emirates Auction | Emirates Auction, with plate sections for all seven emirates | Online bidding or a fixed "buy now" price | Abu Dhabi and northern emirates plates, and some Dubai numbers |
| Owner to owner | Individuals and dealers, on a marketplace or privately | Agreed with the seller | A specific number that is already owned |
Where to buy, emirate by emirate
| Emirate | Government channel | Auction or direct sale |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | RTA website, RTA Dubai app and Customer Happiness Centres | RTA online and hall auctions, RTA direct purchase, and the Dubai plates section of Emirates Auction |
| Abu Dhabi | TAMM, "Ownership of Special Numbers" service | Emirates Auction, Abu Dhabi plates |
| Sharjah | Sharjah traffic department | Emirates Auction, direct sale |
| Ajman | Ajman traffic department | Emirates Auction, plate requests and auctions |
| Ras Al Khaimah | RAK traffic department | Emirates Auction, which has held the exclusive right to sell RAK's distinctive plates since 2016 |
| Umm Al Quwain | UAQ traffic department | Emirates Auction, direct sale |
| Fujairah | Fujairah traffic department | Emirates Auction, direct sale |
The Emirates Auction column reflects the plate sections listed on emiratesauction.com in October 2026. In every emirate, an owner can also sell a plate they already hold to another person, which is the route a marketplace serves.
What an RTA plate auction costs in Dubai
The RTA publishes its auction fees on its auction service page. As of October 2026:
| Fee | Online auction | Hall auction |
|---|---|---|
| Participation | AED 100 | AED 100 |
| Knowledge and Innovation fee | AED 20 | AED 20 |
| Insurance deposit (refundable) | AED 5,000 | AED 25,000 |
| Total to join | AED 5,120 | AED 25,120 |
The AED 120 in fees is not refunded. The deposit comes back if you do not buy, and a card payment is refunded within 40 calendar days. The rules worth knowing before you bid:
- You need a Dubai traffic file. Without one, you must have a tenancy contract or property in Dubai, be an investor in Dubai, work for a company with a branch in Dubai, or own a special plate bought before 2007.
- A number bought from the RTA cannot be registered on a vehicle if your residence visa is issued in another emirate.
- If you win, visit a service centre within 10 working days of the auction ending. If you do not pay in time, the deposit is kept and you are barred from RTA plate auctions for a year.
- Cards are accepted up to AED 50,000, or AED 150,000 for a 3 digit plate. Above that, pay by manager's cheque.
- Auctions are usually announced about a week before they open.
Buying a Dubai plate directly from the RTA
If you do not need a rare number, the RTA's direct purchase service lets you pick from the numbers on sale and skip the auction. You choose a number on the RTA website or app, the RTA approves or rejects the request within 10 working days, and you then have 10 working days to pay. On top of the plate price you pay AED 100 for the plate ownership certificate, AED 20 for the Knowledge and Innovation fee, and VAT.
What Emirates Auction charges
Emirates Auction runs its own online plate auctions on its own terms, which are not the RTA's. The figures below come from its security deposit FAQ, its plate FAQs for each emirate and its terms and conditions, as of October 2026.
| Rule | RTA auction (Dubai) | Emirates Auction |
|---|---|---|
| To take part | AED 120 in fees, not refunded | An account and a security deposit |
| Deposit | AED 5,000 online, AED 25,000 in a hall | 20% of the most you want to bid, by card or bank transfer: AED 3,000 lets you bid up to AED 15,000. Paid by cheque, the cheque covers the full limit |
| Getting the deposit back | A card payment is refunded within 40 calendar days | Fully refundable if you owe nothing. A card deposit is only held, is released after 5 days, and can take up to 30 days to show on your card |
| Paying after you win | Visit a service centre within 10 working days | Pay within 3 working days, then a fee for each day late (AED 105 a day on Abu Dhabi and Umm Al Quwain plates) |
| If you do not pay | Deposit kept, and a one year ban from RTA plate auctions | Deposit kept, account closed, and the plate goes back to auction |
A few more Emirates Auction rules worth knowing:
- The price of a plate includes an AED 100 administrative fee, VAT included, in every emirate.
- Completing the transfer at an Emirates Auction office in a different emirate from the plate's costs an extra AED 300.
- For Abu Dhabi plates, a card deposit goes up to AED 60,000, for a bidding limit of AED 300,000, and Abu Dhabi Police can accept or reject any winning bid.
- Selling the plate on later has its own transfer fee, which differs by emirate: AED 100 in Umm Al Quwain, AED 200 in Ras Al Khaimah.
- You must be 18 or older to bid. Any nationality can bid, and there is no limit on how many plates you buy.
What plates cost: live asking prices on CarsClub
CarsClub had 266 priced plates listed across the seven emirates in October 2026. Most emirates have too few sellers to quote a typical price honestly, so the table below shows only the groups where several independent sellers are asking. These are asking prices, not sale prices.
| Dubai plate | Plates listed | Sellers | Median asking price | Middle half of prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 digits, no digit repeated | 33 | 3 | AED 27,000 | AED 24,000 to 33,000 |
| 5 digits, one digit repeated | 111 | 8 | AED 8,900 | AED 7,900 to 12,000 |
| 5 digits, one digit three times or more | 50 | 4 | AED 8,900 | AED 7,900 to 79,500 |
The last row is the interesting one. Two plates can both repeat a digit three times and be priced ten times apart, because where the repeats sit matters more than how many there are: a run such as 55 500 reads as a single shape, while three scattered digits, as in 38 393, do not. To see where your own number falls, run it through the free plate valuation tool, which prices the pattern rather than just the digit count.
How to buy a plate from a private seller safely
- Ask for the plate ownership certificate and check that the owner's name matches the seller's Emirates ID.
- Agree the price, and what happens if the transfer is refused, in writing.
- Complete the transfer through the traffic authority: the RTA website, app or a service centre in Dubai, TAMM in Abu Dhabi, or the traffic department in the other emirates.
- Pay as part of the transfer, not before it. Never send a deposit to a seller you have not met for a plate you have not seen transferred.
- Check whether the plate can go on your vehicle, especially in Dubai if your visa is from another emirate.
You can browse plates by emirate and contact sellers directly on CarsClub number plates. There is no commission, and the seller deals with you, not a middleman. If you are selling, private sellers get 2 free listings and dealers 5. If you are buying a car to go with the plate, see the used cars for sale in the UAE.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy a number plate in the UAE?
From the government in your emirate (the RTA in Dubai, TAMM in Abu Dhabi), from Emirates Auction, which has plate sections for all seven emirates, Dubai included, or from an owner selling a plate they already hold, on a marketplace such as CarsClub or privately. The plate is only yours once the transfer is registered with the traffic authority.
How much does it cost to join an RTA plate auction in Dubai?
An online auction costs AED 5,120 to join: an AED 5,000 refundable insurance deposit plus AED 120 in fees. A hall auction costs AED 25,120, with an AED 25,000 deposit. The AED 120 is not refunded. These are the RTA's published fees as of October 2026, for the RTA's own auctions. Emirates Auction sets its own deposit.
How much is the deposit on Emirates Auction?
20% of the most you want to bid, if you pay by card or bank transfer: an AED 3,000 deposit lets you bid up to AED 15,000. Paid by cheque, the cheque must cover the full limit. The deposit is fully refundable if you owe nothing, and the price of a plate includes an AED 100 administrative fee. These are Emirates Auction's own terms as of October 2026, separate from the RTA's.
Can I buy a Dubai number plate if my visa is from another emirate?
You need a Dubai traffic file to buy from the RTA. Without one you must have a tenancy contract or property in Dubai, be an investor in Dubai, work for a company with a Dubai branch, or own a special plate bought before 2007. The RTA also states that a number bought this way cannot be registered on a vehicle if your residence visa is issued in another emirate.
How much is a 5 digit Dubai number plate?
On CarsClub in October 2026, Dubai 5 digit plates with one repeated digit had a median asking price of AED 8,900, and half of them asked between AED 7,900 and AED 12,000. These are asking prices from 8 sellers, not sale prices.
Is it safe to buy a number plate from a private seller?
Yes, if the transfer is done at the traffic authority. Check the plate ownership certificate, make sure the name matches the seller's Emirates ID, and do not pay the full amount before the plate is transferred into your name.
