An Emirati man raises his hand to bid for the “R Dubai 10” license plate in its glass case, which was one of many items displayed in the Emirates Auction to be sold for AED 9.7 million ($ 2.65 million) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

An auction to raise money for books for refugee children has raised more than $11 million in Dubai, including the sale of a more than 100-year-old covering from the cube-shaped Kaaba that Muslims pray toward in Makkah.

The piece, woven with gold and silver, sold Tuesday evening for $572,000 and came from the private collection of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. An early 19th Century Indian-Mogul manuscript of the Quran and a 17th Century handwritten copy each sold for $68,000.

Five unique Dubai car plate numbers sold for a total of $7 million. The Reading Nation Ramadan campaign, organized by Dubai as a charity initiative during the Muslim holy month, aims to donate 7.3 million books and establish 2,000 school libraries in Arab countries and refugee camps.—AP