A Dubai man has set a new Guinness World Record for constructing the world’s largest Arabic ‘dhow’ sailing vessel.
Majid Obaid Al Falasi, 52, built the 2,500-tonne wooden vessel in honour of his father, shipbuilder Obaid Jumaa Bin Majid Al Falasi.
The dhow, a traditional sailing vessel used in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean region, is named ‘Obaid’ after Al Falasi’s father.
Last week, Guinness World Records reportedly verified that the vessel, said to be roughly the same length as London’s Big Ben, is now the world’s largest dhow.
The enormous wooden Arabic dhow named Obaid which is 91.47m long and 20.41m wide, sets sail from Dubai 
The enormous wooden Arabic dhow named Obaid which is 91.47m long and 20.41m wide, sets sail from Dubai
Al Falasi, who began work on the project “many years ago”, said that all his ancestors worked in the sea and that his father remained committed to shipbuilding all his life.
To honour his dad, Al Falasi has built a record-breaking dhow that is 91.5 metres (300 feet) long and 20.4 metres (67 feet) in width.
With two engines and a cargo capacity for around 6,000 tons, the dhow will be used to ship goods from the United Arab Emirates to neighbouring regions and as far as Pakistan and India.
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Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
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