Meet Dubai resident who has the highest number of world records in Gulf

A Dubai resident has the highest number of Guinness World Records (GWR) to his name — not just in the UAE, but the wider Gulf region.

Indian national Ramkumar Sarangapani, who is looking to break over 100 records, holds 17 GWR. All his records were set in the UAE.

He is also the highest record holder as an Indian citizen — ahead of even Indian celebrity cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.

Ramkumar attempted a marathon record breaking session on GWR Day on November 18, 2020, where he broke six world records with seven hours and 50 minutes.

The long list of records

The records broken on GWR Day 2020 include:

>> Largest Magnet Sentence – 50,102 magnets (which read ‘I LOVE U.A.E’)

>> Largest Magnet Word - 50,020 magnets (which read ‘Dubai’)

>> Largest Electronic Greetings Card - 12 square metres (for 49th UAE National Day)

>> Largest Banknote Word-3,040 banknotes (which read ‘UAE’)

>> Largest Banknote Sentence- 5,005 banknotes (which read ‘GWR DAY 2020’)

>> Smallest Pack of Playing Cards – 7mm X 5mm X 4.86mm.

His other world records related to the UAE include largest desk calendar (UAE calendar); most pages in a photograph flip book (showing Dubai skyline in 24 hours); largest banknotes mosaic (I LOVE UAE); longest line of plastic cards (UAE flag), among others.

Ramkumar said: “Having lived in Dubai for 17 years, the emirate is as much my favourite home as Chennai in India. I love working on themes that speak of ‘Largest’ and the ‘Longest’ simply because it connects with Dubai, a city dotted with unique and massive structures.

“I feel that through this, I can show the world that the UAE is an amazing land of superlatives, that continues to reach further heights. Until now, all the records that I have made were broken here. The UAE will continue to remain the home for all my future attempts as well.”

How it all began

Ramkumar said it was a casual remark his friend made during a conversation that motivated him to take up the challenge. “A friend of mine claimed that world records are meant for super humans only and I decided to prove that a common man has just as much an opportunity to earn such titles.

“And so, in September 2017, I broke the first GWR — the ‘longest chain of magnets’ — that was around 500 metres in length. The chain would’ve been long enough to put a garland around the entire Dubai Frame.”

Vying to break over 100 records eventually, Ramkumar began with one record a month, with plans to break 12 every year.

The Covi-19 lockdown, he said, provided him with an “ideal opportunity” to pursue his dream and he used the time attempting the records.

Stress reliever

Each record requires extensive planning, creativity, and execution. As the founder and CEO of Numisbing Corporation, Ramkumar regards breaking world records as a “stress reliever” from his busy schedule.

He has even begun converting his records into business ideas. For now, he’s working on commercially producing the smallest pack of playing cards.

“Through my achievements, I want to convey the message to everyone that it takes no superpowers to break records, but just ingenuity, innovation and sheer determination ... I never approached anyone for sponsorship or outside help, yet I was able to do it. So can others if they put their mind to it,” said Ramkumar.

“As a UAE resident and an Indian national, my aim is to make both countries proud through my achievements,” he said.

saman@khaleejtimes.com

• Newsletters
• Dubai
• Abu Dhabi