World Largest Bead Mosaic Guinness Record set by Middle East Women

She is the first woman in the Middle East to enter the Guinness World Records book. And she’s just 25.

Meet Emirati Reem Al Gurg, who made it to the record books by creating what has been officially declared as the world’s largest bead mosaic.

Called Sahara Vision, the 3.75 square-metre artwork is made of a staggering 18,231 wooden beads and represents the confluence of Dubai’s reality and mysticism.

“I chose wooden beads because they reflect the colour of the desert,” said Reem, who took four months to complete the unique piece of art in 2007. By a strange coincidence, November 8 – the day she submitted her entry, was also Guinness World Records Day. But it could not make it to the 2008 edition as it had already gone into print.

But now her record-breaking feat, depicting high-rise buildings facing the desert under three moons, has found its rightful place in the 2009 Arabic edition of the Guinness World Records book. The colossal artwork was also displayed at the recent Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2009 where Reem had a book-signing session. Childhood prophecy

A nutrition teacher at Zayed University, Reem said she always wanted to do something special in life. “Years ago when I was in school, I used to tell my friends that I would break a world record some day,” she recalled. Reem said an animated picture designed by her husband for his company’s home page was what stirred her imagination and helped her conceive an image of the artwork.

It comes as no surprise therefore that she has named it after the company Sahara Vision, which deals in 3-D animation services, architectural visualisation and special effects.

Dubai, the city where Reem grew up, is however the biggest source of her inspiration. “I’m really proud to be living here. It’s amazing how much the city has changed and accomplished in such a short span of time,” she said. Inspiration

Reem loves challenges and, sure enough, has already taken up a new one – her daughter’s birthday gift.

Her daughter turns one on December 1. By then Reem hopes to write and publish a series of books in Arabic for two-year-olds and under, involving two Emirati characters, with an emphasis on local traditions.

Reem wants to exhibit her record-breaking work and said she wouldn’t mind selling it if she gets the right price.

World Most Expensive Pearl Carpet sold at $5.5mn

The famed Pearl Carpet of Baroda has become world's most expensive carpet beating the record of a silk Persian rug, sold last year. It has also set the record of a work sold at auction in the Middle East.

Sotheby's First-Ever International Auction Series in the Middle East realized $18,001,725 (including buyer's premium). A rare Safavid Silk Velvet Panel from 17th century Iran sparked a bidding battle and was sold for nearly ten times the estimate. The Pearl carpet fetched $4.8m ($5,458,500 including buyer's premium) breaking the world record.

Embroidered with as many as one-and-a-half million of the fabled ‘Basra’ pearls, harvested in the southern Gulf region and along the coasts of Qatar and Bahrain, the bejewelled masterpiece is traditionally believed to have been created as a gift for the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad in the holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia and was commissioned by the Maharaja of Baroda, “Gaekwar” Kande Rao,.

The intended gift was clearly never delivered as the Maharaja died before he made the donation and the carpet therefore remained in his family collection for more than 100 years.

The Pearl carpet broke the record held by a silk Isfahan carpet, Silk Safavid Carpet, which went under hammer for $4.45m at Christie's auction, last year.

At the Arts of the Islamic World session, a Safavid work, exhibited for the first time after having resurfaced from a private collection, went under hammer at $3,442,500m.

Many Eggs in one Basket Guinness World Record

Uptown Mirdiff, the host venue for the Dubai Food Festival 2008, got crowds coming in through the evening as a world record attempt for the largest number of eggs held in one hand was held.

Dubai Food Festival is one of the signature events of DSF and features sixteen of Dubai’s finest restaurants till February 2.

The record attempt was part of the Guinness World Records event during DSF. During the week, an attempt to make the largest manakish attracted huge crowds to the lively gathering of different restaurateurs in the city.

Two more records – Fastest rice eating with chopsticks, and the largest chopsticks - will be attempted on January 31 and February 1.

Several volunteers and officials gathered to try and beat the world record of largest number of eggs held in one hand.

With the record standing at 19 eggs in 30 seconds, it was quite a record to break. Nevertheless, a spirited attempt saw 12 eggs get collected in one hand in the specified time.