is sitting in the back row, patiently ticking off each lot as it's sold and recording the price on a chart. Mr al Ghabri is gauging the market. In the past year, his buying has increased because of reliable returns and now he sees the licence plate market as a secondary income.

"This is something I do as a private business for myself," he says. "I buy them with the intent to sell, usually through the internet or through ads in newspapers and print." His next step is to post the numbers online, such as the souq section of dubaimoon.com. The more expensive plates he'll generally sell through family, friends and colleagues, relying on reputation and networking. The mark up, he says, will vary based on the buyer andnumber, but he aims for a minimum of 5 per cent profit. This time around, he has purchased three plates, including 31111 for Dh90,000 and 33331 for Dh65,000.

The pattern is not a coincidence. Mr al Ghabri says he came to the event seeking certain types of numbers that he believes will sell. Sometimes he knows what kinds of numbers his clients are interested in. Other times, he simply bids on a hunch. Buying plates that will increase in value is a tricky business, not unlike the stock market. The price can be determined by the most random of factors. Perhaps it's the bidder's lucky number, a birthday, or an anniversary. Any of these coincidences and forces of nature could suddenly drive up the cost. But behind the randomness