Walid Al-Moallem – Syria’s Veteran Top Diplomat

Walid Mohi Edine al Muallem (aka) Walid Al-Moallem. Diplomat.

Longest serving veteran Foreign Minister of Syria (2006- 2020). Also served concurrently as Deputy Prime Minister of Syria (2012-2020)

Passed away on November 16th, 2020

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pix: wikimedia.org

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SYRIA

Yusra Mardini – Debut Swimmer for World’s First Refugee Olympic Team : Rio 2016

Member : Refugee Olympic Athletes Team (ROT). Competed under the Olympic Flag at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Appointed as UNCHR Goodwill Ambassador (27th April 2017).

Yusra Mardini represented Syria : 2012 FINA World Championships (25m) 200 metre individual medley, 200 metre freestyle and 400 metre freestyle events.

Represents : Under Armour sports brand

Book: Autobiography : ‘ Butterfly: From Refugee to Olympian – My Story of the Rescue, Hope and Triumph’ by Yusra Mardini

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Mardini, 18, swam a 100 metre butterfly heat on day one of the Olympics.(AFP: Martin Bureau) / pix: abc.net.au

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GERMANY / SYRIA

Oldest Professional Basketball Star Player – Moshsen Khalaf

Abdulmohsen Khalaf Al-Muwallad (aka) Mohsen Al-Muwallad (aka) Mohsen Khalaf was officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the ‘ oldest professional basketball player’.

Mohsen Khalaf was selected to play for the Saudi National Team in 1986 at the age of 20 and retired from the international games in 2005.

He played his first game for Ohod Club, Madinah in 1979. Played his final pro game on May 22nd, 2015 at 51 years, 335 days after spending 36 years with the Madinah based team.

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pix: arabnews.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

World Record Created for the ‘ Biggest Virtual Rock Concert in History’ by ‘Global Village’ – Dubai : 31st October, 2020

Global Village in Dubai, has created a world record for ‘ Most Videos in a Music Medley during ‘Global Gig’ the biggest rock concert in history.

Rockin’1000, said to be the ‘largest rock band on earth’ brought to-gether thousands of musicians from over 80 countries in the region and around the world.

Certified by Guinness World Records.

This World Record breaking event was in partnership with Arabian Radio Network (ARN), Emirates and the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

Global Village is celebrating its Silver Jubilee this year. It has set out on a 25 World Records Bids Journey this year.

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Dubai Global Village broke a new Guinness World Records title for the “most videos in a music medley video” during Friday night’s ‘Global Gig. Image Credit: / gulfnews.com

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DUBAI , UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

World’s First Airbus A330-800 Delivered to Kuwait Airways on October 29th, 2020

Kuwait Airways, the national airline of Kuwait took delivery of the world’s first Airbus A330-800 aircraft on October 29th, 2020.

The two aircraft the airline received are the first of eight scheduled to join the Kuwait Airways fleet, which will position it as the world’s largest operator of the type.

The Kuwait Airways aircraft A330-800 will acommodate 235 passenger, featuring 32 fully flat beds in Business Class and 203 spacious seats in Economy with a large capacity cargo hold.

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Kuwait Airways A330-800 lifting off on its delivery flight. (Photo: Airbus) / airlinegeeks.com

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KUWAIT

World’s Largest Wooden Dhow ‘Obaid’. Built in Dubai (U.A.E) – October 2020

‘Obaid’ built in Dubai, is named after the Emirati shipbuilder Obaid Jumaa bin Majid Al-Falasi. It has been certified by Guinness Book of World Records as the ‘World’s largest wooden Arabic Dhow’.

For the record the late Emirati shipbuilder Obaid Juma started his apprenticeship in the1940’s at the age of nine (9).

The dhow measured 91 meters long and more than 20 meters wide. The vessel is 11.22 meters high and weighs 2,500 tonnes. The ‘Obaid’ is powered by two 1,850 horsepower engines and built for speed of 14 knots . Built from approximately 1,700 tonnes of wood and 800 tonnes of steel and is scheduled to carry cargo.

This record breaking marvel is a handmade boat, built in a country with no forests. A modern adaptation is adding steel to the wooden structure.

The ship builder is Majid Obaid Al-Falasi the Managing Director of Majid Obaid Bin Majid Al Falasi & Sons, UAE.

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pix: arabnews.com

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

World’s Largest Oasis ‘Al Ahsa Oasis’ : Saudi Arabia : October 2020

Al Ahsa Oasis in now certified by Guinness World Records as the Planet’s largest self-contained Oasis.

Al Ahsa Oasis has also the largest date-palm oasis surrounded by sand in the world.

It has also a UNESCO designated status as a World Heritage site. Over 6,000 years old. It has many National Heritage Sites, as well as Human Settlements dating back to thousands of years.

Al Ahsa Oasis stretches across 85.4 sq.km . Irrigated by more than 280 springs of hot, warm and cold water.

Annual Al Ahsa Date Festival conducted here. Well known for its ‘Khalsah Dates‘.

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It includes over 2.5 million date palms watered by a network of over 280 artesian springs / pix: gulfbusiness.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

World’s Furthest Leaning Man-Made Tower – ‘ Capital Gate ‘ Abu Dhabi (UAE) : 2011

Abu Dhabi’s Skyscraper ‘Capital Gate’ also known as the ‘Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi. The building officially opened on December 21, 2011.

Capital Gate is 160 meters (520 feet tall) , 35 stories high and with 16,000 sq. meters (170,000 sq.ft) of built area. It is also one of the tallest buildings in the Capital city.

Due to its clever engineering and architectural design, the building leans 18 degrees to the west. It is 4 times more than the Leaning Tower of Suuvhusen. Capital Gate is one of the few diagrid buildings in the world.

Guinness World Records certified as the ‘World’s Farthest Man Made Leaning Building in the World’ in 2018.

Capital Gate is designed by the Architectural firm RMJM , Scotland / United Kingdom.

The building is owned and developed by Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company (ADNEC).

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pix : wikipedia.org / FritzDaCat

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Abu Dhabi, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E.)

Historic First Flight from Israel to UAE, lands in Abu Dhabi : August 2020

A U.S-Israeli official delegation led by Jared Kushner, Senior Adviser to US President Donald Trump, arrived at the Presidential Airport in Abu Dhabi on August 31st, 2020.

The first Israeli commercial plane on which the word ‘peace’ was printed in Arabic, English and Hebrew above its cockpit window landed in UAE.

The flight was numbered after UAE’s International dialing code and the return flight set to leave Abu Dhabi is El Al 972 which is Israel’s dialing code.

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pix: gulfnews.com

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Abu Dhabi, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

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