A licence plate with nothing but the number 1 on it went for a record 14 million US dollars at a charity auction Saturday in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.

Saeed Khouri, a member of a wealthy Abu Dhabi family, said he bought it because it's the best number.

There was no competition, I liked the number and I got it. I have also number 11 and I like the numbers with digit 1 and this is the second number I won. Number one is the best number and the man should be first always .

The UAE began auctioning off vanity licence plates last May.

Ordinary automobile licence plates issued to drivers carry both Arabic and western numerals and script, defining the issuing city and country.

Khouri's plate, however, has only the western numeral and no letters.

The record sale surpassed the 6.8 million USD that was paid for an licence plate at an earlier auction with the number '5' on it - also without Arabic numerals or letters.

Proceeds from the auctions, which are held in a lavish hotel, go to a rehabilitation centre for victims of traffic accidents.

On Saturday, 90 licence plates were auctioned off in all, raising a total of 24 million USD. The previous five such events raised more than 50 million.