Plates from this region are especially interesting, as they present a wide range of styles and manufacturing quality, and are often a direct reflection of geo-political history.  Many Arabic-speaking countries will present the same information in both Arabic and Western characters.

 

Iraq

Army, c. early 2000s

 

Jordan

Commercial vehicle, c. early 2000s

I purchased this from a solider at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, who had been running a fuel depot at Al Asad Air Base in 2006.  A truck from Jordan passed through needing fuel, and the driver traded one of his vehicle’s plates in exchange for a topoff.  The soldier brought it home as a souvenir and kept it for more than a decade before selling it.

 

Kuwait

Passenger vehicle, c. 1981

These plates were manufactured by the Irwin Hodson company of Portland, Oregon

 

Iraqi-Occupied Kuwait

Private car, c. 1990

After annexing Kuwait in August 1990, the Iraqi government issued these distinct plates to vehicles in the new “province”

 

Lebanon

Passenger car, c.1970

This plate is made of a very thick and heavy cast aluminum.  The left side gives the country name in French.  Somehow it made its way to a small antique store in rural Pennsylvania, where I found it when I was 16.

 

Morocco

Passenger car, 1956-1982 series

The 24 at top right indicates Casablanca

 

Oman

Export, 1986

I found this plate in a flea market in Lisbon, Portugal when I was in college

 

Saudi Arabia

Commercial vehicle, 1981 series

The first digit of the registration number indicates the type.  1-3 = passenger cars, 4-7 = commercial vehicles

 

United Arab Emirates

Export, c. 1990s

“SHJ” indicates city of  Sharjah