Seven Guinness World Records in Dubai
Dubai does everything bigger, glitzier, and grander than life. In fact, many of Dubai's feats are record-breaking. Literally.
You may ask yourself: If that's the case, how many world records does Dubai have? Dubai currently holds 339 world records, from the world's largest airport terminal to the greatest number of diamonds on a perfume bottle and more in between.
Want to find out what some of these records are? Read on to discover seven of our favourite Guinness World Records in Dubai.
Palm Fountain
The first on our list is none other than our own, The Palm Fountain. The current holder of the world's largest dancing fountain record is The Pointe's most popular attraction.
The Palm Fountain constitutes two giant floating platforms covering 14,000 sq metres of seawater, towering at 105-metres. The fountain is also the city's only multi-coloured one. The vibrant visual spectacle is made possible with more than 3,000 LED lights, setting the scene for colourful water jets that shoot sky high and dance to popular Khaleeji, pop, classic and international hits.
The fountain is designed sustainably. The water used is circulated directly from the sea without storage or filtration equipment to consume more energy. Additionally, every performance is choreographed using energy-saving technology.
The Palm Fountain captivates visitors with daily shows, running from sunset to midnight.
Burj Khalifa
The world's tallest building shouldn't come as a surprise. At 825-metres, Dubai's Burj Khalifa burst onto the scene with massive fanfare, fireworks, and festivities at the dawn of the new decade after a much-anticipated build.
On top of this record-breaking feat, the Burj Khalifa also snagged several other world-topping records, such as the elevator with the longest travel distance in the world.
With the world records in Dubai that the Burj has won, this project sets new heights for others to surpass.
The Dubai Mall
Claiming the title of the world's largest mall, Dubai Mall has a total area of 1,124,000 sq metres, easily eclipsing other malls worldwide.
Built within the Burj Khalifa complex, Dubai mall has over 1000 shops and many incredible sights; an aquarium with 33,000 creatures and a 270-degree acrylic walkthrough tunnel, an aquatic zoo, an Olympic-sized ice-skating rink, 22-screen multiplex cinema, SEGA theme park, children's play zone, and more attractions.
This popular spot for tourists and locals alike is truly a sight to behold.
Dubai Frame
One of Dubai's iconic attractions, the Dubai Frame at Zabeel Park, holds the Guinness World Record for the largest picture frame ever. At 150-metres tall and 93-metres wide, the Dubai Frame boasts a host of attractions.
Visit this spectacular spot, and experience incredible views of Old and New Dubai, a 25 sqm glass panel bridge that makes it feel like you're walking on air, and a gallery showcasing Dubai's past and predicting its future!
The Fastest Police Car
For its use of the Bugatti Veyron, Dubai's police force was awarded the world's fastest police car. This Bugatti police cruiser can reach speeds up to 254 mph and has a 16-cylinder engine producing a staggering 1000 horsepower. It can also go from 0 to 60 mph in just two and a half seconds.
Although it is unlikely that people will witness what the Bugatti Veyron is capable of, it is another stunning notch in an already impressive police car lineup.
Tallest Chocolate Sculpture
Since Dubai is home to the world's tallest building, why not replicate it in chocolate? In 2014, Dubai Airport revealed the world's largest chocolate sculpture of the Burj Khalifa, which stood at 13.52-metres tall.
Created by Andrew Farrugia – a Maltese food artist – this creation took 4,200 kilograms of Belgian chocolate to make and 1050 hours of work to complete! It took 10,000 pieces of chocolate, hand-cut by Farrugia and others, to recreate the features of Burj Khalifa.
It was unveiled in November 2014 at Dubai International Airport as part of the 43rd UAE National Day celebrations.
Largest Vertical Maze
Dubai has earned itself the reputation of being at the forefront of design and development with its incredible projects. The last mention on our list is Al Rostamani Group's 57-storey skyscraper called "Maze Tower," located on Sheikh Zayed Road. Completed in January 2012, the building features a maze design covering nearly the entirety of its front and back facades. The eye-catching design has earned this project the title of the largest vertical maze in the world.
Constructed out of stone, the maze is a set of interconnected balconies for the building's numerous residential units and offices. It's a real puzzle designed by maze designer Adrian Fisher. At night, the labyrinth is illuminated by multi-coloured LED lights. To top it off, the "Maze Eye" right at the top of the building is an 8-metre circular video wall at the top of the building used to display images.
Honourable Mentions
The world records in Dubai are unmatched! Here are a few honourable mentions on our list that are sure to pique your interest:
World's Tallest Hotel
The JW Marriot Marquis Hotel stands at 355.35-metres, located in Sheikh Zayed Rd, Business Bay.
World's Longest Handmade Gold Chain
This stunning chain of 22k gold was recorded to be 5 kilometres and 240 kilograms.
Most Nationalities Singing a National Anthem Together
To celebrate the UAE's 43rd National Day, 117 nationalities gathered in December 2014 to break this record in a heart-warming act of unity.
Longest Graffiti Scroll
This incredible project, titled 'Rehlatana', stands at 2 kilometres long as the collaborative hard work of 100 graffiti artists. It's currently on display at Jumeirah Beach Park.
Breaking Records
The 'City of Innovation' is growing in ways we can't even imagine! Outside of Dubai, the UAE world records are also staggering in how impressive they are.
These amazing projects, buildings, and even events celebrate how far the city has come. From our very own record-breaking fountain to insane buildings and beautiful representations of Dubai's accomplishments, the world records won't stop anytime soon.
Take a day to discover some of the ground-breaking Guinness world records in Dubai (such as The Palm Fountain), and see what innovation is really made of.
