The license plates of Kuwaiti vehicles have gone through an extensive transformation since their inception in the mid-20th century, with the most recent update in 2007 introducing electronically readable plates - a long journey from when the first car reportedly entered Kuwait in 1911.

Abdelmajid Behbehani, a passionate collector of distinctive license plate numbers, has turned his lifelong hobby into a museum dedicated to preserving the country’s motoring heritage. But more than that, he stressed that preserving Kuwaiti heritage and history is of far greater importance. “It is vital for me to preserve Kuwait’s heritage for future generations. It is both a national and religious duty. We do not want it to be buried with time.”

Behbehani began collecting plates in 2010, and by 2015, he established a heritage museum showcasing rare and distinctive Kuwaiti and Gulf license plates and car and bike artworks. “My passion started when I was a kid, noticing the unique license plates on the street,” he said.

A collection of license plates displayed at Kuwaiti collector Abdelmajid Behbehani's museum.

Special numbers displayed at the museum

Abdelmajid Behbehani with his license plate collection.

A collection of license plates displayed at Kuwaiti collector Abdelmajid Behbehani's museum.

Special numbers displayed at the museum

Abdelmajid Behbehani with his license plate collection.

A collection of license plates displayed at Kuwaiti collector Abdelmajid Behbehani's museum.

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He credits his father for nurturing his love for the hobby from an early age. “My father taught me a lot about the history and types of license plates, and I started collecting those connected to the history of my beloved country, Kuwait,” he explained.

Speaking about the museum, Behbehani said: “The idea was to build an old Kuwaiti heritage museum that preserves the legacy of our country and ancestors. There is a special section for license plates from various periods that reflect beautiful eras in Kuwait’s history.”

His collection includes plates for private cars, taxis, exports, political bodies, transport vehicles, and temporary customs entry. Notably, it also features plates issued during the Iraqi invasion and the Saudi-made versions produced after Kuwait’s liberation. “We also have car plates from GCC countries, and what makes my collection unique is that most of the plates have distinctive or matching numbers,” he added.

Behbehani hopes his work inspires future generations. “I encourage all Kuwaitis to instill in their children a love for our history and to preserve our national heritage.”