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 the other 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 Ramzan Campaign, organised by Dubai as a charity initiative during Ramzan, aims to donate 7.3 million books and establish 2,000 school libraries in Arab countries and refugee camps.