Shopping Festival aims to set five world records

Five world records will be set at the Dubai World Records Venture 2001, which will be held at Dubai Marina on March 22. The attempt is expected to be attended by General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister. The project, one of the highlights of Dubai Shopping Festival 2001, will feature the tallest croquembouche (a French dessert), the Kodak Wall of Fame, the largest incense burner, the biggest shopping bag and the biggest collection of car miniatures.

Hussain Ali Lootah, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Shopping Festival, said: "It has become a tradition with Dubai to create world records in different areas, especially during the Shopping Festival. "We are delighted with the active participation of private companies and individuals who are committed to spreading the fame of Dubai to the world. "The unique assemblage of five new world records in diverse fields will add yet another dimension to Dubai Shopping Festival."

Lootah said representatives from the Guinness Book of World Records, London, will attend the Dubai World Records Venture to authenticate the records. All five records will be displayed at the Dubai Marina for a whole week. The exhibition will be open to the public.

The largest croquembouche, to be made by the Dubai World Trade Centre, will be five metres high, with a base diametre of two metres. More than 185,000 Choux buns will be used, each having a diametre of three cm and each weighing 60gm. The ingredients will include 10,800 eggs, 360 kilos of flour, 240 kilos of butter, 30 kilos of sugar, 12 kilos of salt and 620 litres of water.

The Kodak Wall of Fame aims to set a new Guinness World Record of having the largest collection of photographs on a single theme - One Family, to celebrate the shopping festival's theme of One World, One Family, One Festival. The target is to display 9,534 photographs to break the current Guinness Record.

The feat will be achieved through contributions from families who can visit the Wall of Fame at Al Ghurair City and submit their photographs before March 20. Families can have a free photograph taken for inclusion in the Wall of Fame.

On successful achievement of the record, each entrant will receive a certificate confirming their participation. The certificate will be distributed at Al Ghurair City from March 27 to March 31, 2001.

The largest incense burner (midkhan), being created by Ajmal Perfumes, is a tribute to the long-standing Arabic tradition. It is three metres high, with a base measuring 1.2 metres.
Approximately 60 times the size of a normal midkhan, it can hold up to three kilos of charcoal, against two or three pieces held in a normal burner.

The biggest shopping bag, 180 cm high and 120 cm wide, has been created by Paris Gallery. The huge red bag is currently displayed outside Paris Gallery, Al Ghurair City. A replica of the bag, packed with products worth Dh50,000, will be given away to a lucky shopper in a raffle draw open to customers spending Dh250.

The largest collection of miniature model cars, belonging to UAE businessman Suhail Al Zarooni, will feature more than 2000 models of cars of every make, including Rolls Royce, Mercedes, Ferrari and BMW. Zarooni already has a Guinness World Records certificate for 1,500 cars, but the Dubai World Records Venture 2001 will feature his new acquisitions.