Do you play? The license plate game...

I'm sure everyone has their own family version of the license plate game. No matter where you live or how old you are, we've all played the game before.  Some people look for a sequence of numbers... Others do letters... Still others look for clever words or phrases.... And, if you're really silly (or clever), you can use the whole plate as an acronym!

Our family's version is to look for plates from all the states. Living in Texas, you can & will see just about every state plate driving around on our highways if you're only paying attention.  (Well, probably not Hawaii... But you never know!) 

It's easy to find the ones from OK, NM, & LA.... You will also frequently see CO (although why anyone would want to leave CO for TX in July or August is beyond me!).., and UT, MA, NY, KY, TN, FL... you get the idea. It's become part of the summer fun to look for the various license plates when we are out & about! 

Well, Abu Dhabi has it's own version of the license plate game.... and we are quickly becoming avid players. 

First, a little information about license plates here in the UAE. They look a bit different than the ones we have state-side. Here's mine...

The 12 in the red section has something to do with the area of town the car originated. ... sometimes it's a letter...

So, Version 1 of the UAE license plate game *could* be to look for the various numbers (or letters)... In order, or not. 

We don't play this version...

U.A.E.A.D stands for United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi. Obviously, this car was registered in Abu Dhabi. You will often see plates that say DUBAI, too. I think there are others, but these are really the only two I've seen around here. 

So, Version 2 of the UAE license plate game *could* be to look for the various Emirates (there are 7). 

We don't play this version either...

Instead, take a good look at the remaining numbers on my plate: 

86015

Every car has a sequence of just numbers. They are, in essence, counters.... Here's what I mean:

The rumor (which I have verified by 2 independent sources) is that the lower numbers belong to the Shiek. In fact, the  numbers below, oh say....1000 are reserved for family members. It's rumored that numbers between about 2000 & 1000 are "very close friends & relations" of the Shiek. So if you're driving a car with a 3 digit license plate.... well, you probably leave gold dust in your wake!

I'm at 86000.... No surprise there. We have no connection to the Shiek or his family. But a version of the UAE license plate game *could* be to look for the lowest possible license plate numbers. 

THIS is the version we play! 

I got passed today by this car!

I know you can't make it out in the photo, but the numbers were 1014. Ahhh... Probably explains why they blew past me well over the allowed speed limit. They know people... 

So, we keep our eyes open. So far 133 is the lowest we've seen. 

But you never know.... The very next car might be in double digits!!!