/ARTS WEEKLY/ CULTURE-UAE: Breaking Records to Break Records

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Meena S. Janardhan

DUBAI, Nov 10 2005 (IPS) - The tallest hotel, the largest excavated dry docks, the biggest bowl of spaghetti, the largest stained glass mural – the list is endless for the number of Guinness records that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) holds.

In fact, the UAE is a leading contender for the record for most records per capita and makes the most claims from the Middle East (260 claims), followed by Saudi Arabia (98).

In September, the launch party for the 51st edition of the ‘Guinness Book of Records’ celebrated the UAE’s contributions to the register of exceptional deeds. These include the largest cargo vessel- oil tanker Jahre Viking at 564,763 tonnes; the longest cake – made of dates and bananas, it measured 2,530.8 m in length; the tallest all-suite Burj Al Arab hotel which is 320.94 m tall, shaped like a sail and built on a human-made island; and the highest amount won in a one-horse race – 3.6 million US dollars by Dubai Millennium in the Dubai World Cup on Mar. 25, 2000.

”It is indeed amazing how many records are being set by the UAE,” exclaimed Sana Raouf, a public relations executive based in Dubai, at the launch ceremony.

”In its search for excellence, Dubai is perhaps one of the most forward-looking countries in the Middle East and a sure example is that of the records that UAE holds, 35 of them belong to Dubai, which range from the largest box of chocolate bars – made by Kit Kat (Nestle, Middle East) and weighed 1,700 kg to the largest gathering of people by the same name û Mohammed!” she added excitedly.

The Guinness Book of Records, first published in 1955, is a product of the inquiring and curious mind of Sir Hugh Beaver, chairman of Guinness Brewery, who decided to commission such a book after failing to find an answer to which was the fastest game bird in Europe.

The Guinness World Records 2006 edition, in fact, showcases a select list of Dubai’s achievements in a giant fold-out. In an interview to Friday, a weekly magazine, Laila Sohail, chief marketing officer for the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), said, ”We are simply following the vision of Dubaiàto better ourselves and do unique things – what better way than to break records and the world know we have done it.”

”Since its inception, the DSF has managed to break records annually, every record requires us to work on a planned schedule. All finer details of hygiene, perfect planning and safety are looked into even before the event starts and also at the time of execution,” she added.

Other records by the UAE include the longest painting – measuring 2,978.4 m and created by over 3,000 students from various educational establishments; the youngest population – only 0.2 per cent of the population was aged 75 and over in 1995; the world’s largest paper clip – measuring 3 m in height and made from solid steel; the largest magazine – 27.5 x 39.3 inches, consisting of 188 pages; the tallest, purely residential building – the 21st Century Tower in Dubai; the tallest unsupported flagpole – 123.1 m in Abu Dhabi; the largest calendar 2.15 x 1.5 m; and the best bowling analysis in a one-day international – 7 wickets for 30 runs by Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka, against India at Sharjah on Oct. 27, 2000.

Fighting for recognition could be several upcoming developmental projects like the biggest underwater hotel, the tallest building, the biggest shopping mall and the like. Such projects are part of the UAE’s plan, Dubai’s in particular, to develop a non-oil economy, and are attracting top business houses, tourists and foreign investment. For a country that has less than five million people, majority of them expatriates, the UAE economy grew 17 percent in 2004 with a GDP of 378.8 billion dirhams (103. 8 billion US dollars), with only 32.5 percent of it being derived from the oil sector. The contribution of Dubai, which is fast becoming the international face of the country, to the GDP was 110.7 billion dirhams (30.7 billion US dollars), according to a study conducted by the Dubai Municipality.

‘Babies of the UAE’, one of the unique events of 2004’s DSF, has found a place in the Guinness Book for the world’s largest photographic display of 18,907 pictures. Nearly 3,000 photos were received per day, which involved a painstaking task of sorting photos and mounting them on huge eight sq foot panels, which took almost 1,500 hours.

The mother of one of the babies who featured in this display, Sheila Latif, a Pakistani housewife, said, ”It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seem – all those baby faces, some serious, some laughing, and some even crying, seemed to epitomise innocence and truth. It was a commendable effort that incorporated human emotions, family values and a world record – isn’t that an amazing feat?”

Sahaila Saqer Gobaash of Summer Surprises and DSF, who was also at the ceremony, said, ”We initiate a lot of records during the DSF. My favourites were last year’s records because of the human involvement in organising the biggest collection of people called Mohammed, and in getting children to stand still for the largest human flag.”

”The next year’s festival will witness more record-breaking feats. But this time our focus will be on activities that involve the people and the community,” she added.

There are some more unique records that need to be mentioned. The UAE University has entered the record books by creating a giant mosaic with eight million coloured stones of 19 different types, brought from various countries. The mosaic is a tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, former President of the country.

In 2005, Sheikh Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on his horse Hachim, registered the fastest time ever in a 160-km ride to become the World Endurance Champion. The Championship was also recorded as the biggest single equestrian event with 175 riders and horses from 41 countries.

The Shamshun of Arabia – a UAE strongman team – broke the world record for pulling a heavy truck bare-handed at an event in 2004. The team pulled a truck weighing 26,220 kg for a distance of 32 m, breaking the previous record set by an Australian who pulled a 25,100 kg truck for 30.5 m.

”These world records are fitting examples of the country’s varied cultures and talents and, in particular, Dubai’s zest for life and for showcasing excellence. This is our effort to highlight that this tiny desert country is forging ahead in every field – social, cultural, commercial and intellectual,” Sana said.