Dubai: Unity and harmony in the UAE was on display when people of 96 nationalities literally joined their hands to create a new Guinness World Record for Dubai Thursday.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) set a record for a human chain with the biggest number of nationalities with the participation of Metro commuters from 96 countries together on Public Transport Day yesterday.
Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the board of Executive Directors of RTA, received the title from the adjudicator from the Guinness World Records at the Etisalat Metro Station.
The adjudicator, Hoda Khachab, said Dubai broke the record of Norway where people of 75 nationalities had formed a human chain in 2013.
Positive initiative
Speaking to Gulf News, Shaikh Nahyan appreciated the RTA’s initiative to bring people together and contribute to the prosperity of the UAE on the auspicious occasion of celebrating Flag Day as well.
“We are proud to say that 200 nationalities live and work in the UAE…I am sure that everybody [participants] came today as people of the UAE. And the UAE is known for breaking records in all fields because of all of us…all of us working together in harmony, peace and for the good of the UAE.”
Al Tayer said the Flag Day celebrations being held on Public Transport Day gave an opportunity to feel proud of the achievement on two counts.
Passenger numbers
Appreciating an increasing number of public transport users, he said RTA hopes to increase the number of passengers from 1.3 million to 1.4 million by the end of the year.
The top officials also rode the Metro along with the people who formed the human chain aboard a special train.
Proudly wearing badges of the flags of their home countries on their customized T-shirts with the hash tag #WeMoveTogether, the participating men and women formed the most diverse group of multinationals holding hands aboard the train.
Hassan Ahmad, an Iraqi engineer, came all the way from Abu Dhabi to participate in the record attempt.
“I love to meet people. It is also a nice experience to make a record. I feel proud and flattered to be a part of this. Thanks to Dubai for giving us this opportunity,” he said.
Sporting the participant tag number 96, Nila McCann, a communications specialist from the US, said it was extremely cool to join others of 95 nationalities: “There are a lot of Americans out there. It is nice to be the one to represent them in this.”
A sophomore student at American University of Dubai, Rawan Gazzal from Palestine was delighted to achieve the record for the RTA which provides an outstanding public transport system in Dubai.
“This was my first experience to join such a huge, important event. I feel proud.”
The event, which celebrates the 13th anniversary of the RTA, aims to support Dubai’s efforts to improve the environment and achieve sustainable development.
