Three Guinness World Records Titles Set on Day One of Dubai World Hospitality Championship

All Eyes on Dubai as Accolades Add to Emirate's Clutch of Honours

Dubai-UAE: 16 November, 2013 – Dubai booked its berth on the Guinness World Records bandwagon yet again, with three new records set on day one of the inaugural Dubai World Hospitality Championship two of which are new and one that broke an existing record,

The DWHC's entry to the Guinness World Records was a grand one, with the world's largest serving of Aseeda brought in to the venue from the kitchens of Za'abeel Palace Hospitality. The Aseeda is common dish in the United Arab Emirates, with slight variations in recipe from one region to another. DWHC has set a new record by preparing Aseeda that weighs 2.8 tonnes, using such ingredients as chicken, rice, oats, tomatoes and a selection of Arabic spices.‎

The Dubai World Hospitality Championship has also broken Thailand's record of the largest serving of pickled vegetables. Made using the classic Emirati recipe, the DWHC's ‘Achar', the Emirati traditional vegetable pickle weighed a whopping 1,579 kgs, and took 91 men and 166 hours to make it. Vinegar, blended herbs, spices and salt were used to marinade the vegetables. The Achar has been an integral part of Emirati cuisine across all seven emirates throughout history, besides being a gift that used to be exchanged by Emirati travelers to other lands.

The DWHC'S third entry to the Guinness World Records is a spectacular show of Emirati creativity and solidarity in the form of the world's largest chocolate truffle mosaic that displayed Dubai's logo for Expo 2020. The mosaic logo, which covered an outstanding 404 square metres and used over 360,000 pieces of chocoloate, was the brainchild of Sara Rashed Al Sanqiti, an Emirati businesswoman who runs ‘Minilicious', Dubai.

Initiated by 600 Emirati students, the chocolate mosaic was completed by 85 Emirati men and women in stages.  “We wanted to prove that as Emiratis, we are capable of creating from the scratch something of this magnitude that can impress the whole world – and we have done it!” said Sara, who also confirmed that the proceeds from the sale of the chocolate will go to charity. 

Samer Khallouf, Project Manager, Guinness World Records said: “The records attempted goes in line with the nature of the championship by setting a huge world record for the largest Aseeda which is an Emirati dish and breaking another record for the largest serving of pickled vegetables with an Emirati recipe. We wish all the best for DWHC and the participants.”

The DWHC has already, on its first day, drawn global spotlight by becoming the first-of-its-kind culinary extravaganza to bring together more than 700 regional and international chefs on a single platform in the UAE to compete for a whopping AED6 million worth of prizes. With the DWHC world records adding to its clutch of honours, Dubai is well poised to gain its status as a global hospitality hub.

Following the record-breaking opening of the culinary tourney, DWHC is looking ahead at an agenda-packed two days featuring competitions and culinary showcases.

Shaikha Al Mutawa, Local Championship Committee of Dubai World Hospitality Championship, said: “Dubai has raised the bar and set uncompromising standards for itself and its people. DWHC is a testimony to the fact that with hard work and boundless talent it is still possible to revive the half-forgotten magic of timeless culinary traditions, and present them in a manner that is interesting to today's generation. We are thrilled to be a part of this historic cookery championship, and these records are our way of expressing our gratitude and appreciation to the UAE.”

Organised by the Za'abeel Palace Hospitality under the directive of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, DWHC will conclude on November 18 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.