World’s Largest Drinking Water Storage Tank – Kahramaa : Qatar -August 2020

Kahramaa (Qatar General Electric and Water Corporation) entered the Guinness Book of Records for the category – ‘Volume of the Largest Water Tank of its Kind in the World’.

It has 436,000 cubic meters (exceeding 96 million imperial gallons) capacity.

Qatar’s new world record reflects the efficiency and its strategy to enhance water security for its nation.

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pix : thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Qatar

World Record Winner of ‘Marathon des Sables’ – Lahcen Ahansal

Lahcen Ahansal . Athlete. Long distance runner.

He has the world record for most wins by an individual – 10 wins. The first in 1997 and then 9 of them consequtively 1999 upto 2007

Marathon des Sables is considered to be the toughest running race in the world. It is a six-day ultradistance event that covers 254 km across the Sahara Desert in Morocco.

Lahcen Ahansal is also an organiser to trekking in Southern Morocco and the ‘Zagora Marathon’.

Other Events:

  • 2010: Winner of the Al Andalus Ultimate trail 
  • 2006: Winner of the Ultra Marathon of Belgium (100  km )
  • 2006: 2 nd  place in the Beaujolais Marathon (team winner)
  • 2006: 3 th  place at the Ultra Marathon Verbier , Switzerland
  • 2002: 2 nd  place in the 100 km of Biel , Switzerland
  • 2001: Winner of the Swiss Alpine Marathon ( Davos , Switzerland)
  • 1999: Winner of the Défi Val-de-Travers , Switzerland (74  km , 2952D +)
  • 1998: Winner of the Super Marathon des Gorges du Verdon , France
  • 1998: Winner of the Austrian Ultra Marathon
  • 1995: 3 rd in the Moroccan Super Marathon (contested in the Atlas Mountains)

– A Book by Belgian journalist Marie-Pierre Fosny ‘Marathonien des Sables – Lahcen Ahansal, Nomadic Child and Desert Star’

pix: moroccansoftheworld.com

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Morocco

World’s Tallest Indoor Artificial Climbing Wall – Abu Dhabi, UAE : August 2020

The World’s tallest indoor artificial climbing wall is at a staggering 42.16 m (138 ft).

It is one of 2 world records of CLYMB Abu Dhabi, a sports and leisure attraction on Yas Island.

The other record is of the ‘World’s Biggest Indoor Skydiving Flight Chamber/ Wind Tunnel).

CLYMB Abu Dhabi is awarded for both by Guinness World Records.

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Climber Sasha DiGiulian scales the world’s tallest indoor climbing wall at Clymb Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National / pix: thenational.ae

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Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E)

World’s Biggest Indoor Skydiving Flight Chamber : Abu Dhabi, UAE : August 2020

World record breaking 32 ft (10 m) in diameter and height of 104 ft making it the world’s largest indoor skydiving wind tunnel.

It is one of 2 world records of CLYMB Abu Dhabi, a sports and leisure attraction on Yas Island.

The other record is of the ‘World’s Tallest Artificial Climbing Wall’

CLYMB Abu Dhabi is awarded for both by Guinness World Records.

CLYMB Abu Dhabi is awarded for both by Guinness World Records. / pix: drifttravel.com

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Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E)

World’s First Historic Birth of Arabian Bustard With IVF : Abu Dhabi, UAE : July 2020

Abu Dhabi created a world first record in species conservation , with the birth of the endangered species Arabian Bustard (Ardeotis Arabs) via IVF – artificial insemination.

It was done at the National Avian Research Centre (NARC), Abu Dhabi.

The International Fund for Houbara Conservation(IFHC) Arabian Bustard Breeding Programme, the first of its kind project globally, has successfully bred 42 chicks in captivity.

pix : wam.ae

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Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Record Holder- Most ‘Hotstepper’ Areej Al Hammadi – Emirati Female Footballer : July 2020

Areej Al Hammadi was awarded the Guinness World Record for the most ‘hotstepper’ football control tricks (86) completed in one minute, breaking the previous world record of 56 held in the UK.

Areej Al Hammadi is a footballer and a member of the UAE National Team since 2015.

She is also the Creative Project Manager at Expo 2020 Dubai.

pix : dubaiprnetwork.com

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Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

World’s Largest and Biggest Camel Racing Festival – Saudi Arabia : September 2019

13,377 camels participated in the largest camel racing tournament in the world. Certificate issued by Guinness World Records.

The event was organised by the Saudi Camel Racing Federation and was held on September 13th, 2019 at Taif, Saudi Arabia.

The Crown Prince Camel Festival / pix: thenational.ae

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Saudi Arabia

Mars One – Mohammed Sallam Only Arab Selected for Round III Mars One Project

Mohammed Sallam from Egypt is the only Arab candidate selected for Round III of the Dutch Mars One Project.

He hopes it will pave the path for future Arab astronauts in outer space. Sallam is one of the 100 candidates selected to have entered Round III for Mars One, down form 202,000 initial applicants.

Next year 24 finalists will be selected and trained for the 2031 mission to Mars which aims to establish the first human settlement/colony on the red planet.

-Founder -‘ Saturn V Space Club’ / Project Manager and Speaker – ‘Make Space Yours’ / Member of the Board of Advisory member – ‘Telescopia’

source: fridaymagazine.ae

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Egypt

World’s Longest Chandelier – at ‘Ali Bin Khalifa Al Hitmi’, Doha, Qatar : June 2010

The world’s longest chandelier by number of lights called ‘ Reflective Lights’ is installed at the Ali Bin Khalifa Al Hitmi & Co, office building on the water front in Doha on June 23rd, 2010.

-Largest Chandelier in the world

-Largest inter-active LED light sculpture

The exhibit is an organic art sculpture by day and then transformed when the light is introduced behind the glass frame.

The ‘Reflective Lights’ chandelier weighs 18,000 kg (39,683 lbs) and has 165,000 LED units. It measures 5.8m (19ft) in height at 12.5m (41 ft) in linear width and 38.5 m (126 ft 4in) in linear length. Certified by Guinness World Records.

The Chandelier is designed by Beau McClellan, Scotland.

pix: wholesaleledlights.co.uk

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Qatar

Nuruddin Farah – International Award Winning Writer : Somalia

Nuruddin Farah (aka) Nuuradiin Faaraa . Novelist. Essayist. Short Stories. Playwright. Educator.

Books /Novels :

-From a crooked rib (1970) /A naked needle (1976) / Sweet and Sour Milk (1979) / Sardines (1981) / Close Sesame (1983) / Blood in the Sun (1986) / Maps (1986) / Gifts (1993) / Secrets (1998) / Past Imperfect / Links (2004) / Knots (2007) / Crossbones (2011) / Hiding in Plain Sight (2014) / North of Dawn (2018)…etc..

Awards/Honours :

-English-Speaking Union Literary Award (for Sweet and Sour Milk) (1980) / -Corman Artists Fellowship (1990) /- Kurt Tucholsky Prize, Sweden (1991) / -Best Novel Award (for Gifts), Zimbabwe (1993) / Premio Cavour (for Italian translation of Close Sesame),Italy (1994) / -Neustadt International Prize for Literature (1998) /- St Malo Literary Festival Award (for French edition of Gifts) (1998) etc…

Presently lives in Cape Town, South Africa

pic: hiiraan.com

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Somalia