Rain had been falling over Hudayriyat Island when more than 150 healthcare workers — nurses, doctors, and frontline staff from across the globe — gathered to carry an 85-metre banner weighing over 200 kilograms across a 100-metre course, breaking a Guinness World Record in the process.
The attempt, titled “Our Nation. Our Heartbeat.,” drew 153 participants representing 64 nationalities, surpassing the previous record of 58 nationalities set in Dubai in 2019 for the category of Most Nationalities Carrying a Banner. Guinness World Records adjudicator Raafat Tawfik was on-site to verify the attempt.
“We are officially congratulating you on the 64 nationalities,” Tawfik announced, declaring the group “Officially Amazing.”
The record was staged during the closing ceremony of the Burjeel Games, an annual healthcare sports and community event organised by Abu Dhabi-based Burjeel Holdings in partnership with Abu Dhabi Sports Council. The Games drew over 2,500 participants this year. The ceremony had originally been scheduled for February 28 but was postponed following regional developments. Organisers say the entire record attempt was pulled together within 48 hours once conditions allowed.
The initiative was framed as a direct response to a call by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who had urged citizens and residents to raise the national flag across homes, institutions, and buildings during a period of regional uncertainty.
Burjeel Holdings Chairman and CEO Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil said the occasion reflected both the character of the UAE and the role its healthcare workforce played in the weeks prior.
“We are proud to be part of a nation that brings together so many cultures under one vision. This initiative represents the resilience of the UAE and the strength of its people. In the past weeks, we have stood alongside the nation, serving communities with commitment and care. This moment reflects that same spirit, a collective expression of unity from people who call this country home,” he said.
He added: “We are once again celebrating the multicultural fabric of the UAE, which is home to more than 200 nationalities, and supporting national values of unity and harmony.”
Among those who braved the wet conditions were participants’ family members, including infants, who waited through the rain before the attempt got underway.
For some participants, the shift from clinical work to flagbearer carried particular meaning. Dr. Michael George Uglow of Burjeel Medical City, a UK national, noted the contrast with their ordinary roles.
“Our usual days include focusing on care and being present for every patient who needs us,” he said. “Today, we came together differently, as proud members of the UAE, standing under one banner.”
Group Chief Nursing Officer Dirkie Theunissen, who is from South Africa, pointed to what the gathering represented beyond the record itself.
“We work side by side with colleagues from across the world every day. Today, that diversity came alive in a powerful way. It reminded us why the UAE feels like home.”
