Dubai, a city known for opulence and extravagance, is home to some of the world’s wealthiest individuals who harbour a fascination for rare and exclusive assets. Among them is Balvinder Singh Sahni, more popularly known as Abu Sabah, a Dubai-based billionaire whose penchant for ultra-luxury automobiles and extravagant number plates has earned him both fame and fortune. In this article, we delve into the world of Abu Sabah, exploring his remarkable collection of VIP number plates, his unconventional approach to life, and his unwavering passion for making money.
The Record-Breaking Collector
In 2016, Abu Sabah captured the media’s attention when he acquired the ‘5’ car number plate for an astounding price of Dh33 million. This astonishing acquisition was just a glimpse into the world of luxury and exclusivity that Abu Sabah inhabits. As the chairman of the RSG Group, he has amassed numerous VIP number plates from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, a collection that far surpasses the value of the Rolls-Royces and other top-tier vehicles he keeps in his possession.
The Unrevealed Wealth
Abu Sabah, however, remains tight-lipped about the exact number of VIP number plates he owns. “I have dozens of VIP car number plates, but I don’t want to disclose,” he says. Among his treasured possessions are ‘Dubai 5’ and ‘Abu Dhabi 5,’ which are the most expensive number plates in his collection. He reveals, “All of my number plates are much more than Dh 100 million, and the total cost of the VIP number plates is higher than the value of my cars.”
The Origin of the Obsession
Abu Sabah’s passion for exclusive number plates had an intriguing beginning. He explains, “When I came to Dubai, I had many Rolls-Royce cars, but then I realised that every house has a Rolls-Royce. If I have two, they have three.” His journey into the world of luxury numbers started in 2006 when a luxury hotel’s stringent entrance policy prompted him to seek out a 2-digit number plate. He shares with a smile, “So I went to the auction and bought 3 number plates for Dh2.8 million each.”
‘A Number Man’
Abu Sabah’s fascination with numbers goes beyond licence plates. He considers the number 9 and the color blue to be symbols of good fortune. “I sign mostly with a blue pen. There’s no black pen in my office,” he says. His connection with numbers dates back to his time in Kuwait, where he made headlines by acquiring the priciest mobile number in the country for Dh600,000. His close ties with Kuwait’s royal family added to his reputation as a ‘number man.’
A Driven Lifestyle
Abu Sabah’s daily routine is as lavish as his possessions. He starts his day with a morning walk at 6 am and visits various project sites before heading to his central office. Throughout the day, he engages in meetings at government offices, often extending his working hours well into the late hours, concluding his activities only around midnight. His boundless passion for his work ensures that boredom is a distant concept for him.
Selective Conversations
While Abu Sabah may be a man of immense wealth and influence, he remains reticent about political matters. He reserves his conversations for topics that ignite his passion and enthusiasm. His reputation among his peers is one of unwavering consistency, conserving his energy for matters he finds stimulating and positive, rather than squandering it on what he deems uninteresting or negative.
Passion for Prosperity
In the world of Abu Sabah, there is just one passion that drives him – making money. It is this relentless pursuit of wealth and the allure of the exclusive that sets him apart in a city where extravagance knows no bounds. Abu Sabah’s life is a testament to his unapologetic love for luxury and the numbers that symbolise it.
