The entire Middle East region is seeing exponential growth in the business of breaking records. “In the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, we've seen an increase of between 300 per cent to 400 per cent in the number of applications over the past 5 years,” says Talal Omar, who manages the MENA region. He’s recently re-located from London to Dubai in order to better handle the new demand from the region. “Last year, on average, we were flying to the Middle East every week to adjudicate records.”
From the creative to the exhaustive and even, as some might say, the downright ridiculous, there have been quite a few new records this year. The largest handprint painting in Kuwait, for instance. The biggest football in Doha. Even the longest table in Dubai.
“Someone’s ridiculous is someone else’s normal and that is the beauty for us,” Omar continues. “We’re amazed by the ideas we get from people but that shows the diversity in people. We don’t work with one region or one country. We work with the world.”
So what does it take to qualify for a record? And how do entries get judged? We went along to one Guiness World Record attempt to find out. This time, it was for “the world’s longest convoy of off-road vehicles”.
In the deserts of Dubai, 170 four-wheelers lined up at the starting point. Their task was simple; to drive a 30-kilometre track but they had a hefty stack of rules to follow. Omar’s colleague, Kimberley Dennis, was there to explain.
“The whole convoy has to keep moving,” she says. “If it stops, the record will be disqualified. There has to be a gap no bigger than 100 metres between the vehicles. If it’s bigger than that, that’ll also disqualify it.”
It seemed like a tall order on paper, even taller in practice. Two previous attempts had already failed. But such guidelines are the norm, we’re told. It turns out there are quite a few criteria for any record to even get considered. For instance, a record has to be measureable (i.e. the longest, the heaviest). It also has to be breakable. None of which seems to have dissuaded the Middle Eastern hopefuls. “We've seen an increase of between 150 and 250 per cent in record attempts from these countries over the past 5 years,” Omar explains.
The organisers of this attempt seem pretty determined. They’re a local driving group, who’ve mapped out the 30-kilometre course, spread the word via social media and newspapers and designated 50 marshals to guide the drivers.
We follow the course, watching each car carefully tracing the route. Every driver is fully aware that they must keep a steady speed. Witnesses, appointed by Guinness, keep track of the cars to ensure drivers stick to the guidelines. By the end, at least 10 cars have pulled out. At the finish line, Omar stands watch and clipboard in hand, monitors each car that completes the course. Once the final car crosses the line, deliberations begin.
The wait seems an eternity but it’s actually a matter of minutes. Omar is ready to make the announcement. ”The minimum requirement to set a new Guinness Book Record is 150. Today, after verifying the attempt that took place according to Guinness book guidelines, I can confirm that the total number of cars in the convoy was...153.” Success! It’s third time lucky for this group of drivers.
Omar, himself, is pretty chuffed too. “I think it's one of the best moments that we have in this job, sharing and celebrating achievements with new record holders.” And like that, another World Record is set, further racking up the record tally for the Middle East.
