Dubai is a city that loves to break records. From the tallest building in the world to the largest shopping mall, Dubai is home to some of the most amazing and impressive feats of engineering and construction. In fact, Dubai holds over 425 Guinness World Records, more than any other country in the Middle East.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the most amazing world records that Dubai has set.
Dubai
In 2017, Dubai was the city with most buildings that are 300m or taller, at 21 buildings. Dubai has maintained this title till date, with 28 buildings that are 300m or taller at present.
Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa is an architectural marvel. Its construction began in January 2004 and was opened on 4 January 2010. At over 828 metres (2,716.5 feet), Burj Khalifa holds multiple world records.
- Tallest building in the world
- Tallest free-standing structure in the world
- Highest number of stories in the world- 163
- Highest occupied floor in the world- 163rd floor
- Highest outdoor observation deck in the world- 124th floor
- Elevator with the longest travel distance in the world- It travels a distance of 504 meters (1,654 feet) from the ground floor to the 163rd floor, which is the highest point that the public can access. The elevator travels at a speed of 10 meters per second
- Tallest service elevator in the world
Dubai Mall – Largest Shopping Mall
The Dubai Mall, located in Downtown Dubai, is the largest shopping centre in the world. It has four storeys, a total interior floor area of 548,127 m2 (5.9 million ft2), 1,200 retail establishments, and more than 160 food and beverage establishments.
Construction began in 2004 and the mall was opened on 4 November 2008. Among the attractions in the mall are an aquarium, an Olympic-sized ice rink a 22-screen movie theater, KidZania, PlayDXB (VR Park), Souk Al Bahar and Dubai Fountain.
The world’s largest mall grew even larger in 2019 with the opening of Dubai Mall Zabeel, a significant expansion that welcomed new lifestyle experiences, dining options, retail options and 3,000 new parking spaces. The Zabeel extension adds almost 15,000 sqm of space, with an incredible array of art on display – all linked by a fully air-conditioned link bridge from Dubai Mall.
Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo – Largest Aquarium in a Mall
The Dubai Aquarium, which opened in 2008 in Dubai Mall is the largest aquarium in a mall. It is 51 meters long, 20 meters wide, and 11 meters high and holds 10 million liters of water. It is home to over 140 species, including more than 300 sharks and rays. The aquarium is also home to a number of rare and endangered marine animals, such as the giant grouper and the whale shark.
In addition to viewing it from the mall aisle, visitors can experience a 48-m walk-through tunnel, take a glass-bottom boat ride, or even go cage snorkeling and diving. The aquarium also has a number of other exhibits, including a penguin exhibit, a shark tank, and a jellyfish tank. Visitors can also learn about the conservation of marine life at the aquarium’s education center.
Deep Dive Dubai – Deepest Pool
Deep Dive Dubai achieved the world record for the deepest dive pool on June 27, 2021, measuring 60.02m (196 ft 10 in).
The Pearl Diving Pool is a building with a gross floor area of about 5,000m2. It will primarily be a teaching and recreational indoor scuba diving center with amenities for education, training, and recreation.
The Pool is a concrete building with a circular shaft that is 60.02 meters deep. The surfaces of the pool and shaft are built to present diverse themes depending on the pool depth. There are props present, like artificial reefs, submerged tunnels, a recreation of a buried city, complete with buildings, streets, and even a fully furnished apartment, to enhance the diving experience.
Numerous underwater filming needs can be met by Deep Dive Dubai. The “sunken city” inside the pool can be utilized as a backdrop for a film set, and there are other set dressing options available.
The Palm Fountain – Largest Fountain
The Palm Fountain at The Pointe, which opened in October 2020, was named the world’s largest fountain, measuring at 7327 m2, by the Guinness World records.
The fountain has shooters that can shoot water 105 meters into the air and spreads seawater over a surface area of 14,000 square feet. The fountain uses over 22,000 liters of water per minute.
It features 3,000 LED lights and is choreographed to a variety of music, including Arabic, Western, and Bollywood music. The fountain show is free to watch, was 3 minutes long, and took place every 30 minutes from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
However, the Palm Fountain closed on 15 May 2023.
Ain Dubai – Largest and Highest Observation Wheel
The largest observation wheel in the world is the Ain Dubai, also known as the Dubai Eye. It is located on Bluewaters Island in Dubai. The Ain Dubai opened on 21 October 2021, and quickly became a popular tourist attraction.
It measures 250 m (820 ft) from the ground to the top of its rim, which is 80 m (262 ft) taller than the previous record holder. The ferris wheel provides views across Dubai Marina towards the soaring Burj Khalifa and the city’s skyscrapers. Each of the 48 cabins can accommodate 40 people and rotate fully in 38 minutes.
Ain Dubai was announced in February 2013 and construction began in May 2015. The wheel took five years to build and cost AED 1.5 billion to construct. It rotates at a speed of 18 kilometers per hour (11 miles per hour).
R&Drone Laboratory – First 3D Printed Laboratory
R&Drone Laboratory is the first 3D printed laboratory in the world, achieved by DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) on 27 September 2021. It is located in Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, Dubai.
The R&Drone Laboratory is used to research and develop new 3D printing technologies, as well as to test and validate new 3D printing materials. It is also used to train engineers and technicians in 3D printing.
The laboratory is equipped with a variety of 3D printers, including a large-scale gantry printer, a robotic arm printer, and a handheld printer. It also has a range of other equipment, such as a materials testing lab, a computer-aided design (CAD) lab, and a metallurgy lab.
Dubai Miracle Garden – Largest Floral Arrangement
The largest floral arrangement/structure was achieved by Dubai Miracle Garden on 2 December 2016. This structure is shaped like an Airbus A380, and its dimensions are 72.95 m (233 ft 4 in) x 78.34 m (257 ft) x 21.98 m (72 ft 1 in).
The Dubai Miracle Garden is a flower garden located in the district of Dubailand, Dubai. It occupies over 72,000 square meters, featuring over 50 million flowers and 250 million plants. The Miracle Garden is home to a variety of flower sculptures, including a giant teddy bear, a heart-shaped castle, a Smurfs village, and a replica of the Burj Khalifa. The garden also features a number of interactive exhibits, such as a flower maze and a butterfly garden.
Dubai Frame – Largest Frame
The Dubai Frame achieved the world record for the largest building in a shape of a picture frame on 9 May 2019. It is an observatory, museum, and monument, that measures 50.23 m (492 ft 10 in) tall and 95.53 m (313 ft 5 in) wide. The construction of the Dubai Frame took four years and cost AED 130 million.
Dubai Frame also has a gift shop for souvenirs and a cafe for food and drinks. It is located in Zabeel Park, Dubai and offers stunning panoramic views of the city. It provides a unique experience to glimpse into the past, present, and future of the city.
Jebel Ali Power Plant and Water Desalination complex – Largest Water Desalination Facility
On 27 September 2022, The Jebel Ali Power Plant and Water Desalination Complex, run by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), was declared to be the largest water desalination facility. As of 22 September 2022, this facility can produce 2,227,587 cubic meters of desalinated water per day (490 MIGD).
Desalination plays a critical role in Dubai’s water supply due to its arid climate and limited freshwater resources. The city relies heavily on desalination to meet its growing water demands. Dubai has invested significantly in advanced desalination technologies and infrastructure, making it one of the leading cities in desalination capacity worldwide. This approach has allowed Dubai to secure a stable water supply, supporting its rapid urbanization, economic growth, and ambitious development projects.
Dubai Racing Club – Largest Laser Show
The largest laser show in the world was in the Dubai Racing Club, on 27 March 2021, for the closing ceremony of the Dubai World Cup 2021. The laser show consisted of 824 laser emission sources.
The Dubai Racing Club is a horse racing club at Meydan racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is the organizer of the Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horse race. The club also organizes a number of other horse races throughout the year like the Dubai Golden Shaheen, the Dubai Sheema Classic, and the Dubai Turf.
The Dubai Racing Club’s flagship event is the Dubai World Cup. The Dubai World Cup is held annually in March and is the world’s richest horse race with a total purse of $30 million.
Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
This video wall was inaugurated on 2 August 2017 on Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo in Dubai Mall. It is 709.69 m² (7,639 ft² 5 in²) large and holds the world record for the largest high definition video wall, largest high resolution video wall and the largest OLED screen.
SLS Dubai Hotel and Residence – Highest Overflow Pool
The SLS Dubai Hotel and Residence in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on April 20, 2021, established the height record for an outside overflow pool in a building at a height of 325 m (1066.27 ft).
The SLS Dubai Hotel and Residence is located in Downtown Dubai. Two outdoor overflow pools can be found which is located on the 75th floor of the structure. It is open to hotel guests and residents, and it is also available for private events. The pool is surrounded by a sundeck with lounge chairs and daybeds. There is also a pool bar that serves drinks and snacks.
Dubai Police
The Dubai Police force is known for its innovative use of technology and its commitment to community service. It holds multiple Guinness World Records. Here are some of them.
First Unmanned Smart Police Station
Dubai created a world record by having the first unmanned smart police station. The Dubai Police Smart Station, operated by Dubai Police (UAE) and was inaugurated at City Walk, Dubai, UAE on 18 September 2017.
The police station is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. It offers 27 core services like reporting crimes and traffic incidents and 33 other services like getting a good conduct certificate, social support for those who have experienced family violence etc.
First Unmanned Floating Smart Police Station
Dubai created a world record by having the first unmanned floating smart police station. The Dubai Police Floating Smart Station, operated by Dubai Police HQ (UAE), is located in the sea off Dubai’s World Islands, in Dubai, UAE, was inaugurated on 20 June 2023.
The police station is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. It offers 27 core services like reporting crimes and traffic incidents and 33 other services that will assist sea users and residents of World Island like getting a good conduct certificate, social support for those who have experienced family violence etc.
Fastest Police Car in Service
The fastest car owned by any police department is the Bugatti Veyron, owned by the Dubai Police. They bought this car in April 2016 for 1.6 million USD. However, it is used for promotional and awareness purposes only.
The Bugatti Veyron is the second fastest street legal car in the world, which can reach a top speed of 407 km/h. The 16-cylinder engine launches the car of 0 to 60mph in just 2.5 seconds.
Largest Wheelchair Race
The largest wheelchair race is 289 and was achieved by Dubai Police (UAE), in Dubai, UAE, on 18 November 2017. The race was organized by Dubai Police as part of their annual Dubai Fitness Challenge.
The race was open to people of all ages and abilities, and participants had to complete a 2.5 km course. The winner of the race was Abdulla Ghafri, 2nd was Ridhajalal Bahri and 3rd was Fahad Mohammad.
It was the first time that a wheelchair race had been held as part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge. The race was sponsored by the Dubai Sports Council and the Dubai Disability Sports Club and supported by a number of local businesses and organizations. The race was broadcast live on social media.
The race was a great success, and it helped to raise awareness of the importance of fitness and inclusion for people with disabilities. It also showed that people with disabilities can achieve great things, even in sports.
