The Sheikh Zayed Festival has set two Guinness World records with a dazzling fireworks display that lasted for 35 minutes to welcome 2021.
The second was for the longest Girandola fireworks show in the world.
The Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival is a cultural festival that is held annually in Abu Dhabi.
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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)
The door of the Holy Kaaba was designed by Syrian Engineer Muneer Sarri Al-Jundi last in 1399 AH (1978). The door was commissioned by King Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz.
The entrance of the Holy Kaaba is made of 280 kg of pure gold.
The door is 3 metres in height, 2 metres in width and half metre in depth. It consists of 2 rudders and a 10cm base made of Thailands’, Macca Moon Wood.
It was made in the factory of the famous goldsmiths the Badr family of Mecca – Sheikh Al-Sagha, Sheikh Mahmoud Badr.
The lines engraved on the door were made by Syed Abdul Rahim Bukhari.
Engineer Muneer Sarri Al-Jundi had the honour of having his name inscribed on the door of the Holy Kaaba.
Muneer Al-Jundi died on December 16th, 2020 (Wednesday – Jumada Al-Awal 04, 1442 AH).
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SYRIA
UAE’s latest satellite Falcon Eye 2 lifted off into space on a Russian Soyuz ST-A rocket from French Guiana Space Centre, South America on December 02nd, 2020 at 0533am UAE time.
It is now the 4th reconnaissance satellite launched in the UAE.
The space craft will provide high-definition images from around the world for military and civilian use.
The 1,190 kilogram satellite was built by Airbus Defence & Space and Thales Alenia Space in Toulouse, France. The UAE Space Agency oversaw its development.
This was a part of the Falcon eye programme, where two identical satellites were built for the UAE Armed Forces.
The first was Falcon Eye 1 which was lost in space last year after the Italian Vega rocket that carried it failed.
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)
Doves Ride is Saudi Arabia’s first licenced women’s cycling team. Based in Riyadh it is licenced both locally and internationally.
Shahd Alturki is the founder and professional cycling trainer.
Doves Ride organizes rides for all levels, from the gentle trails suitable for beginners to the more challenging routes for hardened cyclists. The group offers lessons that can help any beginner ride a bike safely.
Contacts are Twitter and Instagram @dovesride
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SAUDI ARABIA
The Hotelier Awards 2020 recognised 18 of the region’s most talented hospitality professionals, with many more leaving Highly Commended or with a special mention.
Held at JW Marriott Marquis Dubai on Tuesday November 24, the gala event welcomed more than 200 people, who were kept safe from COVID-19 by the event team’s hygiene measures and partnership with Bee’ah.
Housekeeper of the Year
Winner – Asif Khatri, Executive Housekeeper, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah and Hilton Dubai The Walk
Highly Commended – Harsh Gaur, Executive Housekeeper, Taj Dubai
IT Person of the Year
Winner – Fritzi Lescano, IT Manager – Internal Communications, Accor Regional Office MEA
Highly Commended – Abdul Baseer Mohammed, Technology Manager, InterContinental Jeddah
Hotel Engineer of the Year
Winner – Gurpal Singh, Chief Engineer, InterContinental Hotels at Dubai Festival City
Highly Commended – Fernandez Nicholas, Director of Engineering, Mercure Dubai Barsha Heights – Hotel Suites & Apartments
Safety & Security Person of the Year
Winner – Muhammad Waqar Azeem Qamar, Risk Champion / Learning & Quality Manager, InterContinental Jeddah
Highly Commended – Onkar Sawant, Director of Security, Taj Dubai
HR & Training Person of the Year
Winner – Feryal Haddon, Cluster Director of Human Resources, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, Hilton Dubai The Walk, Hilton Dubai Creek
Highly Commended – Yasmine Farouk, Director of Human Resources, Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
Procurement Person of the Year
Winner – Alan Lewis, Purchasing Manager, Fairmont Dubai
Finance Person of the Year
Winner – Mazen Salha, Director of Finance, Swissotel Al Ghurair & Swissotel Living Al Ghurair
Highly Commended – Joanna Talegon, Assistant Credit Manager, TIME Oak Hotel & Suites
Concierge/Guest Services Person of the Year
Winner – Kamal Kariyawasam, Chief Concierge, InterContinental Hotels at Dubai Festival City
Highly Commended – Swapnil Patrikar, Complex Guest Services Manager, The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina
Special Mention – Vinay Govande, Front Office Manager, Taj Dubai
Fitness/Spa Person of the Year
Winner – Rosemary Read-Larsen, Director, Wellness at Atlantis Dubai
Highly Commended – Majd Kassab, Recreation Supervisor, TIME Oak Hotel & Suites
Sales Person of the Year
Winner – Valentina Sobeshchuk, Director of Sales and Marketing, Rixos Bab Al Bahr and Regional Director of Sales, Rixos Hotels UAE
Highly Commended – Ileshaa Nijhawan, Multi-Property Senior Sales Groups & Events Manager, Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre and Le Méridien Fairway
Marketing & PR Person of the Year
Winner – Shamia Abdul Aziz, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications, Sofitel Dubai The Palm
Highly Commended – Ahmad Jaber, Cluster Director of Marketing, Digital & Communications, InterContinental Hotels at Dubai Festival City
Special Mention – Richard Thorburn, PR & Marketing Manager, Six Senses Zighy Bay
Executive Chef of the Year
Winner – Jay Williams, Complex Director of Culinary, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina and The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina
Highly Commended – Luigi Vespero, Executive Chef, Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
Special Mention – Nasser Lamei Rayes Khalil, Executive Chef, Crowne Plaza Dubai-Deira
F&B Manager of the Year
Winner – Emad Ramzy, F&B Manager, Crowne Plaza Dubai-Deira
Highly Commended – Jodie O’Meara, Hotel F&B Operations Manager, Zabeel House by Jumeirah, The Greens
Young Hotelier of the Year
Winner – Bhavesh Tanwani, Assistant Front Office Manager, Bab al Qasr Abu Dhabi
Highly Commended – Tatiana Radchenko, Revenue Manager, W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island
Unsung Hero of the Year
Winner – Leonora T. Manuel, Senior Nurse, Raffles Dubai
Highly Commended – Simone Troxler, Sustainability Manager, Six Senses Zighy Bay
Special Mention – Myra Macalma, Hotel Nurse, Fairmont Dubai
General Manager of the Year
Winner – Christophe Schnyder, General Manager, Sofitel Dubai The Palm
Highly Commended – Luke James, General Manager, Zabeel House by Jumeirah, The Greens
Mid-Market Hotel Team of the Year
Winner – Zabeel House by Jumeirah, The Greens
Highly Commended – Radisson RED Dubai Silicon Oasis
Hotel Team of the Year
Winner – Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai
Highly Commended – Al Baleed Resort Salalah By Anantara
source: hoteliermiddleeast.com
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Dr Khawla Al Romaithi travelled the world solo, across the 7 continents and broke the world record for ‘fastest time to travel all seven continents’ .
The whole trip took 3 days, 14 hours, 46 minutes and 48 seconds. Her epic travel journey ended in Sydney, Australia on February 13th, 2020.
The record was announced on the occasion of Guinness World Records Day. The journey was in sync with this years’ theme ‘Discover Your World’.
Dr. Khawla Al Romaithi’s record broke the previous record achieved by Kacey Stewart and Julie Berry (both of USA) on December 2017.
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Abu Dhabi, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)
Grand Mosque Algeria (aka) Djamma El Djzair (aka) Great Mosque of Algiers, with a hall capacity to serve a maximum of 120,000 worshippers.
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ALGERIA
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
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.
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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)
The Doha based Qatar Airways honoured Breast Cancer Awareness month in a special way by drawing the iconic ‘Ribbon’ in the skyy.
An all-female crew with female pilots, cabin crew, ATC controller, engineer, dispatches and passengers took off from Hamad International Airport, Doha.
They operated a 787-8 Boeing special flight over Qatar QR 9901, of over 1 hour 20 minutes with registration code A7-BCM.
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QATAR