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.

_________________

pix: arabnews.com

___________________________________________

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

World’s Largest Fountain – The Palm Fountain, Dubai (UAE) – October 23rd, 2020

The Palm Fountain at The Pointe, the Palm Jumeirah broke the record for the World’s largest fountain.

The Palm Fountain measures 7,327 sq. metres and spreads 14,000 sq. feet of sea water equipped with shooters capable of blasting water 105 metres into the air and features 3,000 LED lights in multiple colours.

Certified by Guinness World Records.

______________

pix: mediaoffice.ae

_________________________________________

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)

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‘.

_______________

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

_________________

SAUDI ARABIA

Fahad Badar – First Arab Male to Double Summit in a Single Expedition : Qatar 2019

Fahad Badar. Business Leader. Adventurer. High Altitude Climber. Mountaineer.

Business Leader : Executive General Manager, Chief – International Banking – Commercial Bank of Qatar-

Some Records:

  • 2019 -Fahad Badar made history by becoming the first Arab male to double summit both Mount Everest and Lhotse in a single expedition.
  • 2020 – Climbed the highest mountain in the Antartic, Mount Vinson at 4,892m, reaching the summit on January 02nd, 2020. The expedition included 2 guides and 9 team members.

Education:

-MBA : Durham University, U.K.

www.fahadbadar.com

____________________

pix: thepeninsulaqatar.com

__________

QATAR

Emirati Physicist Dr.Ahmed Almheri Wins Coveted ‘New Horizons Physics Prize’ USA : Sepember 2020:

Dr Ahmed Almheri, Physicist was awarded the ‘New Horizons Physics Prize’ for his research on black holes in space. The award is founded by ‘The Breakthrough Foundation’ USA.

He is currently a long-term member in the ‘School of Natural Science’. Doing his post-docotral studies in Physics at ‘Institute for Advance Studies (IAS), Princeton University.

First Emirati to be accepted for the post-doctoral studies at Princeton University, University of California.

Education:

-Ph.D – Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara

– M.A. – University of California, Santa Barbara

– B.Sc/B.A – University of Toronto

Awards:

-New Horizons Physics Prize (2020)

-Lancaster Dissertation Award in Mathematics, Physics, Sciences and Engineering (2014)

-Member Martin Hairer ‘Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics’

_________________

Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics / pix: youtube.com

___________________________________

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E.)

Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber : Director General – ADNOC & Chairman – MASDAR : Abu Dhabi (U.A.E)

Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber .

-Minister of State, UAE

– Director General and Group CEO – ADNOC / Chairman – MASDAR / Chairman – UAE National Media Council / Chairman of the Board – Abu Dhabi Ports / Chairman of the Board – Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation (ADMIC) / Chairman – Sky News Arabia ….

On the Board of several Organisations etc..

International:

  • UN’s Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change (AGECC) – 2009
  • UAE’s Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Change – 2010

Honours:

  • Named one of UN’s ‘Champions of the Earth’ – Category: Entrepreneurial Vision (2012)
  • Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) – 2013
  • Medal of National Order of Merit – Mauritania – 2013

Education:

  • Ph.D – Business and Economics, Coventry University, UK
  • M.BA -California State University, Los Angeles
  • BS – Chemical Engineering, University of Southern California

Others:

Advocate of Alternative Energy Sustainable Development

_____________

pix: adnoc.ae

______________________________________________

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

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.

_________

pix : thepeninsulaqatar.com

_______

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

__________

Morocco

World’s 5th Largest Lake Island – Ukerewe Island : Tanzania

Ukerewe Island in Tanzania is the largest Island in Lake Victoria.

It is also the Largest Lake Island in Africa.

It is also the 5th Largest Lake Island in the World with an area of 530 km2 (200 sq ml).

pix : safarijunkie.com

____________

Tanzania

Egypt – World’s Largest Exporter of Frozen Strawberries : 2019

Egypt was the world’s number one exporter of frozen strawberries in 2019, according to a report by the United Nations’ (UN) World Trade Center. 

The Egyptian Food Export Council revealed that Egyptian exports of frozen strawberries made up 20% of all global exports last year, amounting to about 140,000 tons valued at $165 million

In second place behind Egypt is Poland, who exported 94,000 tons of frozen strawberries in 2019. Mexico came in third with 84,000 tons, with Morocco coming in fourth place with 73,000 tons, and in fifth place was China with 48,000 tons.

pix: nilefm.com

________

Egypt