UAE enters Guinness book yet again

Abu Dhabi - Some 4,000 white, green, red and black helmets were lined up on the grass field, in the shape of the UAE flag and each participant had to stand next to one.

The UAE has entered the Guinness Book of World Records with the biggest human national flag. With nearly 4,000 people turning up, the UAE beat the previous world record holder, Turkey.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Interior (MoI) on Sunday morning, at Baniyas Sports Club in Al Shamkha, Abu Dhabi. Organised within the framework of the 2016 International Exhibition for Security and National Resilience (ISNR) taking place this week in the capital, the record was meant to highlight the country's concerns with its labourers and its commitment to maintaining safety and security. Hence, every participant had to wear helmet.
"We wanted to show the Emirates' care for its labourers. It is important for us to send this message to the world," said Major-General Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, deputy chairman of ISNR Higher Organising Committee. Police officers from Abu Dhabi and Dubai, school students, employees from various organisations employees, men and women, all responded to MoI's call for the biggest gathering of "helmets".
Some 4,000 white, green, red and black helmets supplied by the Abu Dhabi Occupation, Safety and Health department of MoI were lined up on the grass field, in the shape of the UAE flag and each participant had to stand next to one.
As soon as it was picked up, the helmet transmitted a signal through a fitted electronic device to the observation desk in a viewing gallery in the stadium, where a Guinness World Record judge was present to count and oversee the process.
Around 10am, after all the counting was done, he announced the result: the UAE has broken the record and is now the official title holder of the largest human gathering in forming a national flag.
"Over 3,900 people turned up, thus beating the previous world record, which was 2,770 people in Istanbul, in 2015," Major-General Al Raisi told Khaleej Times.
silvia@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE