Dubai: From the fastest police car to the largest kidney, the UAE managed to set over 24 world records in 2017, landing its achievements in the 63rd edition of the Guinness World Records Book (GWR) 2018.
The announcement was made by Talal Omar, GWR’s country manager Mena, at the book launch at Armani Hotel, next to the world’s tallest building, which itself holds 11 world records.
The UAE currently holds 190 records, and is considered the fastest growing country in the region when it comes to the record applications and records achieved — followed by Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
“There’s a growth in the number of applications we receive year to year in the region. We first started with 900-1,000 applications a year in the UAE, and have seen a 20 per cent increase,” Omar said.
This year, the UAE set the world record for the most mechanical energy produced by pedalling on static bicycles in one hour. The record involved 300 participants who cycled on 100 stationary bikes to produce 8,999 watt hours of energy in 60 minutes at Burj Park, Dubai.
The UAE also set a record for the largest stencil, which included artwork produced by a stencil measuring 11.13 square metres, which was unveiled at the Middle East Film and Comic Con in Dubai. The team of artists took three days to complete the layered sections produced by airbrush, spray gun and laser-cut stencils to depict images of superheroes such as Spiderman, Superman and Batman against the Dubai skyline.
The world record for the largest kidney was presented to Dr Fariborz Bagheri who removed a 4.25kg non-functional kidney from a patient suffering from polycystic kidney disease.
Among the UAE’s latest records is the largest flower arrangement measuring 72.95 by 78.34 by 21.98 metres in the shape of an Airbus A380 created by Dubai Miracle Garden, and the record for the largest standing lantern measuring 42 feet 11 inches in Sharjah.
“Two years ago, I would say many of the records achieved in the UAE were in categories such as architecture and technology, but now there are records achieved in a several areas including endurance and collections,” added Omar.
This year, Dubai set the world record for most table tennis ball bounces on a racquet in one minute blindfolded, by Frenchman Alexandre Mitterrand who managed 27 bounces in 60 seconds during a GWR live event held in Etisalat Beach Canteen in Dubai.
“You can see several of Dubai’s world records by landing at Dubai Airport (DXB), the busiest airport in the world, then taking the metro, which has a record for the longest driverless metro in the world, and passing by the Al Rostamani Tower that holds the world’s longest maze, and ending your trip at Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, before strolling down to Dubai Mall, the largest mall worldwide,” said Omar.
For those who are interested in attempting to break a new world record, Omar referred to the four main criteria pointing out a record must be measurable (one measurement per record), breakable, verifiable through plenty of evidence, and standardisable.
The GWR, which is the global authority on record-breaking achievement, was first published in 1955. The annual Guinness World Records Book has sold over 136million copies in over 20 languages and in more than a 100 countries. “Here in the UAE, we sell around 10,000 to 12,000 copies of the book a year, and we are currently working on an Arabic edition to further reach out to our Arabic audience,” said Omar.
Ten of the UAE’s world records
Fastest police car in service presented to Dubai Police for the Bugatti Veyron, with a top speed of 407km/h.
Largest glow-in-the-dark painting, measuring 416.26 square metres displayed in Ras Al Khaimah.
Largest human image of an organ created by 3,196 students from GEMS Cambridge International School UAE, who formed the shape of a pair of lungs in Abu Dhabi.
Largest water screen projection measuring 893 square metres displayed on a curtain of 30 water fountains in Festival Bay during the Dubai Shopping Festival.
Largest tin of caviar weighing 17.82kg produced for a festival cocktail party at the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai
Fastest mobile bed reached a maximum speed of 135km/h at the Emirates Motor Sports Complex in Umm Al Quwain
Youngest cabinet member for Shamma Suhail Faris Al Mazroui, 22, who was appointed the UAE’s Minister of State for Youth Affairs.
Tallest building to launch fireworks for Burj Khalifa from where more than 1.6 tonnes of fireworks were fired on New Year’s Eve.
Longest driverless metro network presented to Dubai Metro, which has two lines with a total length of 74.69km.
Most people dressed as emojis achieved in Dubai Mall.
Ten of the UAE’s world records
- Fastest police car in service presented to Dubai Police for the Bugatti Veyron, with a top speed of 407km/h.
- Largest glow-in-the-dark painting, measuring 416.26 square metres displayed in Ras Al Khaimah.
- Largest human image of an organ created by 3,196 students from GEMS Cambridge International School UAE, who formed the shape of a pair of lungs in Abu Dhabi.
- Largest water screen projection measuring 893 square metres displayed on a curtain of 30 water fountains in Festival Bay during the Dubai Shopping Festival.
- Largest tin of caviar weighing 17.82kg produced for a festival
- cocktail party at the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai
- Fastest mobile bed reached a maximum speed of 135km/h at the Emirates Motor Sports Complex in Umm Al Quwain
- Youngest cabinet member for Shamma Suhail Faris Al Mazroui, 22, who was appointed the UAE’s Minister of State for Youth Affairs.
- Tallest building to launch fireworks for Burj Khalifa from where more than 1.6 tonnes of fireworks were fired on New Year’s Eve.
- Longest driverless metro network presented to Dubai Metro, which has two lines with a total length of 74.69km.
- Most people dressed as emojis achieved in Dubai Mall.
