ABU DHABI // A sandcastle being built on the capital’s Corniche to mark 42nd National Day is thought to be the largest ever built in the Arab world.
The 8-metre high United House Castle, which measures 20 metres by 30 metres at its base, will contain about 3,000 tonnes of sand.
It will be presented as a gift to the President, Sheikh Khalifa, during a ceremony on Wednesday.
Emiratis with disabilities will take part in the presentation and hand out awards, said Amer Ibrahim, one of the organisers. The ceremony will also include a celebration of the country’s heritage and culture.
Organisers are already looking forward to an even bigger challenge for the 43rd National Day.
“We will break the record next year, inshallah,” said Mr Ibrahim, adding that their effort had fallen short of a world record this year.
It is the second time this year that a sandcastle world record has been attempted on the Corniche.
In October, as part of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix, organisers tried to break the world record for the most number of sandcastles built in an hour.
But Guinness World Records officials only approved 537 of the sandcastles, falling well short of the 1,939 built on a beach in Ireland last year.
lcarroll@thenational.ae
