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The Gulf does it bigger... and weirder? 13 world records that will leave you dumbfounded and none the wiser

Published December 22nd, 2014 - 10:15 GMT

The Gulf is known for being over the top, so it should come as no surprise that many Gulf countries compete with one another for random and quirky world records. From the tallest chocolate structure to the biggest car parade and longest gold chain, here are some of the funniest Gulf World Records.

Guess that’s what you do when you have tons of money lying around.

And remember, Guiness is good for you!
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Biggest mosque carpet - The longest red carpet might be in Hollywood, but the largest mosque carpet is in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. The UAE snatched the title from Oman in 2007 when they unrolled their 53 square foot masterpiece. This mosque also boasts the biggest chandelier and the largest dome of its kind in the world.

Biggest mosque carpet - The longest red carpet might be in Hollywood, but the largest mosque carpet is in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. The UAE snatched the title from Oman in 2007 when they unrolled their 53 square foot masterpiece. This mosque also boasts the biggest chandelier and the largest dome of its kind in the world.

Tallest building - Dubai’s Burj Khalifa is the the world’s tallest building at 2,722 feet, and it’s got six other world-record-breaking aspects. But once Jeddah's Kingdom Tower is built, the UAE will have to come back with another try.

Tallest building - Dubai’s Burj Khalifa is the the world’s tallest building at 2,722 feet, and it’s got six other world-record-breaking aspects. But once Jeddah's Kingdom Tower is built, the UAE will have to come back with another try.

Longest graffiti scroll - Yep. Dubai also has the world’s longest graffiti scroll. More than 100 artists took part in the construction and used up 7,000 spray cans in the process. What does the scroll depict? The UAE’s history, of course.

Longest graffiti scroll - Yep. Dubai also has the world’s longest graffiti scroll. More than 100 artists took part in the construction and used up 7,000 spray cans in the process. What does the scroll depict? The UAE’s history, of course.

Biggest football mosaic - Did you know there was such a thing as a football mosaic? Neither did we, but the UAE decided to celebrate its 43rd National Day this November with a “flag” made out of 6,000 footballs. The mosaic measures in at 280 square meters.

Biggest football mosaic - Did you know there was such a thing as a football mosaic? Neither did we, but the UAE decided to celebrate its 43rd National Day this November with a “flag” made out of 6,000 footballs. The mosaic measures in at 280 square meters.

Biggest car parade - The UAE broke this world record by assembling the highest number of cars of different makes in a single parade. Seems like a legitimate use of everyone’s time. And with so many driving, was anyone watching from the sidelines?

Biggest car parade - The UAE broke this world record by assembling the highest number of cars of different makes in a single parade. Seems like a legitimate use of everyone’s time. And with so many driving, was anyone watching from the sidelines?

World’s tallest chocolate structure - Made entirely from Belgian chocolate, the 44 foot chocolate model of the Burj Khalifa was recently unveiled at Dubai International Airport. The structure took over 1,000 hours to create. We just hope someone gets to eat it!

World’s tallest chocolate structure - Made entirely from Belgian chocolate, the 44 foot chocolate model of the Burj Khalifa was recently unveiled at Dubai International Airport. The structure took over 1,000 hours to create. We just hope someone gets to eat it!

Biggest man-made island - The Palm is the biggest man-made island in the world, as if Dubai needed more palms. Around $12 billion was dumped in the sea to construct 560 acres of new land.

Biggest man-made island - The Palm is the biggest man-made island in the world, as if Dubai needed more palms. Around $12 billion was dumped in the sea to construct 560 acres of new land.

Burj Al Arab hotel - The only 7 star hotel in the world, its construction cost is estimated to be around $650 million. The average rate for a standard room is about $1,200 a night. At that price, there better be a chocolate waiting on the pillow!

Burj Al Arab hotel - The only 7 star hotel in the world, its construction cost is estimated to be around $650 million. The average rate for a standard room is about $1,200 a night. At that price, there better be a chocolate waiting on the pillow!

World’s tallest dancing fountain - Dubai Fountain, built beside the tallest building in the world (the Burj Khalifa), is Earth’s largest choreographed fountain system. Part of the 30-acre manmade Burj Khalifa Lake in downtown Dubai, it shoots water up to 500 feet into the air, rhythmically pulsed in time with a varied musical playlist.

World’s tallest dancing fountain - Dubai Fountain, built beside the tallest building in the world (the Burj Khalifa), is Earth’s largest choreographed fountain system. Part of the 30-acre manmade Burj Khalifa Lake in downtown Dubai, it shoots water up to 500 feet into the air, rhythmically pulsed in time with a varied musical playlist.

World’s longest automated train - Dubai Metro is the first urban train network in the Arabian Peninsula. Guinness declared Dubai Metro to be the world's longest fully automated metro network with a route length of 47 miles. Its stations are now being hyped as the “most beautiful train stations in the world."

World’s longest automated train - Dubai Metro is the first urban train network in the Arabian Peninsula. Guinness declared Dubai Metro to be the world's longest fully automated metro network with a route length of 47 miles. Its stations are now being hyped as the “most beautiful train stations in the world."

Not a record yet, but … Qatar's World Cup stadium caught attention for resembling female genitalia. Architect Zara Hadid said it was meant to resemble a traditional sailing vessel. We’d like to think of it “as a deliberate nod towards the increasingly liberal Qatari policies concerning women in sport”.

Not a record yet, but … Qatar's World Cup stadium caught attention for resembling female genitalia. Architect Zara Hadid said it was meant to resemble a traditional sailing vessel. We’d like to think of it “as a deliberate nod towards the increasingly liberal Qatari policies concerning women in sport”.

Also not an official record, but we couldn't leave this one out - A Saudi man gets to keep his drivers license in spite of 415 traffic violations in under four years. Possibly the worst driver of all time, he is hoping to win the record for most traffic violations. Maybe he can use his winnings to pay off the fines.

Also not an official record, but we couldn't leave this one out - A Saudi man gets to keep his drivers license in spite of 415 traffic violations in under four years. Possibly the worst driver of all time, he is hoping to win the record for most traffic violations. Maybe he can use his winnings to pay off the fines.

Biggest mosque carpet - The longest red carpet might be in Hollywood, but the largest mosque carpet is in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. The UAE snatched the title from Oman in 2007 when they unrolled their 53 square foot masterpiece. This mosque also boasts the biggest chandelier and the largest dome of its kind in the world.
Tallest building - Dubai’s Burj Khalifa is the the world’s tallest building at 2,722 feet, and it’s got six other world-record-breaking aspects. But once Jeddah's Kingdom Tower is built, the UAE will have to come back with another try.
Longest graffiti scroll - Yep. Dubai also has the world’s longest graffiti scroll. More than 100 artists took part in the construction and used up 7,000 spray cans in the process. What does the scroll depict? The UAE’s history, of course.
Biggest football mosaic - Did you know there was such a thing as a football mosaic? Neither did we, but the UAE decided to celebrate its 43rd National Day this November with a “flag” made out of 6,000 footballs. The mosaic measures in at 280 square meters.
Biggest car parade - The UAE broke this world record by assembling the highest number of cars of different makes in a single parade. Seems like a legitimate use of everyone’s time. And with so many driving, was anyone watching from the sidelines?
World’s tallest chocolate structure - Made entirely from Belgian chocolate, the 44 foot chocolate model of the Burj Khalifa was recently unveiled at Dubai International Airport. The structure took over 1,000 hours to create. We just hope someone gets to eat it!
Biggest man-made island - The Palm is the biggest man-made island in the world, as if Dubai needed more palms. Around $12 billion was dumped in the sea to construct 560 acres of new land.
Burj Al Arab hotel - The only 7 star hotel in the world, its construction cost is estimated to be around $650 million. The average rate for a standard room is about $1,200 a night. At that price, there better be a chocolate waiting on the pillow!
World’s tallest dancing fountain - Dubai Fountain, built beside the tallest building in the world (the Burj Khalifa), is Earth’s largest choreographed fountain system. Part of the 30-acre manmade Burj Khalifa Lake in downtown Dubai, it shoots water up to 500 feet into the air, rhythmically pulsed in time with a varied musical playlist.
World’s longest automated train - Dubai Metro is the first urban train network in the Arabian Peninsula. Guinness declared Dubai Metro to be the world's longest fully automated metro network with a route length of 47 miles. Its stations are now being hyped as the “most beautiful train stations in the world."
Not a record yet, but … Qatar's World Cup stadium caught attention for resembling female genitalia. Architect Zara Hadid said it was meant to resemble a traditional sailing vessel. We’d like to think of it “as a deliberate nod towards the increasingly liberal Qatari policies concerning women in sport”.
Also not an official record, but we couldn't leave this one out - A Saudi man gets to keep his drivers license in spite of 415 traffic violations in under four years. Possibly the worst driver of all time, he is hoping to win the record for most traffic violations. Maybe he can use his winnings to pay off the fines.
Biggest mosque carpet - The longest red carpet might be in Hollywood, but the largest mosque carpet is in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. The UAE snatched the title from Oman in 2007 when they unrolled their 53 square foot masterpiece. This mosque also boasts the biggest chandelier and the largest dome of its kind in the world.
Biggest mosque carpet - The longest red carpet might be in Hollywood, but the largest mosque carpet is in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. The UAE snatched the title from Oman in 2007 when they unrolled their 53 square foot masterpiece. This mosque also boasts the biggest chandelier and the largest dome of its kind in the world.
Tallest building - Dubai’s Burj Khalifa is the the world’s tallest building at 2,722 feet, and it’s got six other world-record-breaking aspects. But once Jeddah's Kingdom Tower is built, the UAE will have to come back with another try.
Tallest building - Dubai’s Burj Khalifa is the the world’s tallest building at 2,722 feet, and it’s got six other world-record-breaking aspects. But once Jeddah's Kingdom Tower is built, the UAE will have to come back with another try.
Longest graffiti scroll - Yep. Dubai also has the world’s longest graffiti scroll. More than 100 artists took part in the construction and used up 7,000 spray cans in the process. What does the scroll depict? The UAE’s history, of course.
Longest graffiti scroll - Yep. Dubai also has the world’s longest graffiti scroll. More than 100 artists took part in the construction and used up 7,000 spray cans in the process. What does the scroll depict? The UAE’s history, of course.
Biggest football mosaic - Did you know there was such a thing as a football mosaic? Neither did we, but the UAE decided to celebrate its 43rd National Day this November with a “flag” made out of 6,000 footballs. The mosaic measures in at 280 square meters.
Biggest football mosaic - Did you know there was such a thing as a football mosaic? Neither did we, but the UAE decided to celebrate its 43rd National Day this November with a “flag” made out of 6,000 footballs. The mosaic measures in at 280 square meters.
Biggest car parade - The UAE broke this world record by assembling the highest number of cars of different makes in a single parade. Seems like a legitimate use of everyone’s time. And with so many driving, was anyone watching from the sidelines?
Biggest car parade - The UAE broke this world record by assembling the highest number of cars of different makes in a single parade. Seems like a legitimate use of everyone’s time. And with so many driving, was anyone watching from the sidelines?
World’s tallest chocolate structure - Made entirely from Belgian chocolate, the 44 foot chocolate model of the Burj Khalifa was recently unveiled at Dubai International Airport. The structure took over 1,000 hours to create. We just hope someone gets to eat it!
World’s tallest chocolate structure - Made entirely from Belgian chocolate, the 44 foot chocolate model of the Burj Khalifa was recently unveiled at Dubai International Airport. The structure took over 1,000 hours to create. We just hope someone gets to eat it!
Biggest man-made island - The Palm is the biggest man-made island in the world, as if Dubai needed more palms. Around $12 billion was dumped in the sea to construct 560 acres of new land.
Biggest man-made island - The Palm is the biggest man-made island in the world, as if Dubai needed more palms. Around $12 billion was dumped in the sea to construct 560 acres of new land.
Burj Al Arab hotel - The only 7 star hotel in the world, its construction cost is estimated to be around $650 million. The average rate for a standard room is about $1,200 a night. At that price, there better be a chocolate waiting on the pillow!
Burj Al Arab hotel - The only 7 star hotel in the world, its construction cost is estimated to be around $650 million. The average rate for a standard room is about $1,200 a night. At that price, there better be a chocolate waiting on the pillow!
World’s tallest dancing fountain - Dubai Fountain, built beside the tallest building in the world (the Burj Khalifa), is Earth’s largest choreographed fountain system. Part of the 30-acre manmade Burj Khalifa Lake in downtown Dubai, it shoots water up to 500 feet into the air, rhythmically pulsed in time with a varied musical playlist.
World’s tallest dancing fountain - Dubai Fountain, built beside the tallest building in the world (the Burj Khalifa), is Earth’s largest choreographed fountain system. Part of the 30-acre manmade Burj Khalifa Lake in downtown Dubai, it shoots water up to 500 feet into the air, rhythmically pulsed in time with a varied musical playlist.
World’s longest automated train - Dubai Metro is the first urban train network in the Arabian Peninsula. Guinness declared Dubai Metro to be the world's longest fully automated metro network with a route length of 47 miles. Its stations are now being hyped as the “most beautiful train stations in the world."
World’s longest automated train - Dubai Metro is the first urban train network in the Arabian Peninsula. Guinness declared Dubai Metro to be the world's longest fully automated metro network with a route length of 47 miles. Its stations are now being hyped as the “most beautiful train stations in the world."
Not a record yet, but … Qatar's World Cup stadium caught attention for resembling female genitalia. Architect Zara Hadid said it was meant to resemble a traditional sailing vessel. We’d like to think of it “as a deliberate nod towards the increasingly liberal Qatari policies concerning women in sport”.
Not a record yet, but … Qatar's World Cup stadium caught attention for resembling female genitalia. Architect Zara Hadid said it was meant to resemble a traditional sailing vessel. We’d like to think of it “as a deliberate nod towards the increasingly liberal Qatari policies concerning women in sport”.
Also not an official record, but we couldn't leave this one out - A Saudi man gets to keep his drivers license in spite of 415 traffic violations in under four years. Possibly the worst driver of all time, he is hoping to win the record for most traffic violations. Maybe he can use his winnings to pay off the fines.
Also not an official record, but we couldn't leave this one out - A Saudi man gets to keep his drivers license in spite of 415 traffic violations in under four years. Possibly the worst driver of all time, he is hoping to win the record for most traffic violations. Maybe he can use his winnings to pay off the fines.

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