Dubai: A Dubai resident hopes to make it to the Guinness Book of World Records for decorating a car with 33,000 UAE coins as a National Day tribute to the country.
Pakistani expatriate Tariq Javaid, who works in the automotive sector, used a 1998 Chevrolet Camaro to express his love for the country he has resided in since 1999.
He said the car took 3,000 hours to decorate and, apart from the 33,000 coins together weighing 160kg, it took 10kg of glue to complete the decoration.
Every step of its making has been documented in preparation for his Guinness bid — from the first coin that he glued onto the car on October 15, 2010, to the last piece, which was pasted a week ago in time for the big celebrations this week.
And Javaid hopes his masterpiece, which he has named the "Pride of the Emirates" will find a place in the famous world records book.
Though displayed amidst a fleet of the latest car models at the Al Ghandi Auto showroom on Shaikh Zayed Road, the coin-studded vehicle has hogged the limelight. Its shimmering surface is wowing car lovers and guests as the coat of coins glistens under the lights.
The car was unveiled to the public on Tuesday by Javaid together with his country's Consul General Tariq Iqbal Soomro.
Dedicating it to the UAE, Javaid had told Gulf News: "I heard last year that the 40th National Day is going to be a big celebration. So I planned to do something to celebrate along with all UAE nationals — something very unusual."
Javaid said his love for the UAE pushed him to create this unique piece of art. He even enlisted the help of a friend to procure coins that were not yet in circulation.
"I requested my friend who works in a bank to arrange for the coins. All the coins used in this car are brand new," he said, adding what makes the project unusual is that "I used UAE coins of all denominations — right from Dh1, 50 fils and 25fils to 5fils and 1fil".
"The most interesting part is that most people have never ever seen 5fils and 1 fil coins before," he said.
The commemorative car will be housed in a museum after the National Day celebrations.
