Vertical Maze
In 2015, the 55-storey tall Maze Tower in Dubai's Financial District earned the Guinness Book of World Records nod for the world's largest vertical maze. As noted in a January 21, 2015 article in The National, "The maze itself is not just a random pattern but a real puzzle. The design uses the changing level of natural light and shadow during the day, as well as natural Brazilian Verde Bahia stone, to create a striking facade."
Collections
In March 2008, Mohammed Yahya Al-Assiri of Saudi Arabia
broke two records to enter the Guinness Book of World
Records. Al-Assiri not only has the largest collection of
handmade prayer beads (3,220), but also the largest
collection of old car license plates, issued during the era
of the first Saudi king, Abdul Aziz. Technically, speaking,
Al-Assiri is the holder of three records: He's also the
first Saudi to get into the Guinness Book of World
Records.
Soup
Meanwhile, a September 6, 2008 Arab News article reported that a group of four Saudi chefs and 15
assistants in Jeddah prepared the largest bowl of soup. The
10,000+ liter soup was made from 250 kg of Quaker oats, 500
kg of onions, 400 kg of tomatoes, and other ingredients
including white pepper, garlic, basil, coriander and
parsley, and was distributed to spectators and a charity.
Plate
An August 1, 2008 article in DubaiCityGuide.com reported
that the world's largest steel plate was on display during
the Liwa Date Festival. The oval platter measured 10.06
metres (33.0 feet) by 2.03 metres (6.65 feet). In my
opinion, much better than the plate was the fact that it was
heaped with 2,000kg of juicy dates, representing four
varieties grown in the area! (Source: World Records Academy)
Utensils
You may think that a country in the Far East would boast the
world's largest wooden chopsticks, but no! An April 9, 2008
Gulf News article
reported that Dubai's Marco Polo Hotel holds the world
record for longest wooden chopsticks. At 22.5 feet (6.86
meters) long, the pair of chopsticks in Dubai beat the
record of China's Shenyang Province.
Jewelry
A Saudi Arabian jewelry manufacturer created the heaviest
gold ring, known as the Najmat Taiba (Star of Taiba). The
ring was made with 58.686 kg (129.379 lbs) of 21-carat gold,
and is mounted with 5.37 kg (11.839 lbs) of precious stones.
The ring's total weight is 53.856 kg (118.731 lbs). The ring
was made by 55 artisans over 45 days. (Source:
The Rich Times)
Cell Phone Number
A May 23, 2006 article reported that Qtel, Qatar's
leading telecommunications supplier, saw the sale of the
world's most expensive mobile phone number, which was sold
during a charitable auction. The number, 666 6666, was sold
for 10m Qatari riyals ($2.75 million).
Mega-Structures
Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport's Haj
Terminal, built for arriving and departing
Haj pilgrims, is roofed by a fabric
tension structure that covers more area than any roof in the
world. (Source: Tensinet.com)
The Burj Khalifa, formerly Burj Dubai, a skyscraper
located in the Business Bay district of Dubai,
United Arab Emirates, and is the
tallest man-made structure ever built. Construction began on
September 21, 2004 and was completed September 2009.
Racing Purse
The Dubai World Cup is a
thoroughbred horse race that is an invitation-only event. It
is the world's richest race, and in 2008, its seven races
had a total purse of $21.25 million.
Transplant First
In 2000, Dr. Wafa Fageeh at King Fahad Hospital and Research
Centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, performed the world's first
womb transplant, transplanting the uterus of a 46-year-old
into a 26-year-old woman. The uterus produced two menstrual
periods before it failed after three months and had to be
removed.