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The UAE got plenty of accolades over the past week, including two Guinness World records, 20 sports awards, and high rankings in global indices.
GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS-
#1-SeaWorld Abu Dhabi — which launched last May — snagged a Guinness World title as the largest indoor marine-life theme park,” covering some 183k sqm across five indoor levels, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi houses one of the world’s largest multi-species marine life aquariums, with eight immersive realms of marine life offered, plus 17 dining experiences and 13 shopping plazas.
#2- Dubai’s mixed-use development One Za’abeel also received a Guinness World Record title for the longest cantilevered building for its sky concourse, The Link, according to a press release. The Link spans 230m in length and hovers 100m above ground, featuring a cantilever that extends 67.277m beyond the main tower.
ABU DHABI-
#1- Abu Dhabi was labeled the Arab Environment Capital for the year 2023 by both the Arab League’s Secretariat General and the Council of Arab Environment Ministers, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. The award nods to the emirate’s green efforts in environmental protection and sustainable development, including maintaining air quality, developing green infrastructure, and adopting renewable energy.
#2- The Abu Dhabi Sports Council received 20 awards at the 2023 MENA Stevie Awards in recognition of its service quality in the global sports sector, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. The accolades included four gold, three silver, and 13 bronze awards.
GLOBAL RANKINGS-
#1- Emirates defended its rank as the fourth most valuable airline brand globally and the most valuable in the Middle East, according to a report by global brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance. The airline recorded the third-biggest brand value improvement — increasing 30% in brand value to USD 6.6 bn — and scored third in strongest airline brands in the world, up from its previous ranking of 12th place in the previous year.
Etihad Airways also retained its brand strength rating of AA, according to Brand Finance.
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The UAE ranked first globally in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor’s (pdf)National Entrepreneurship Context Index — which takes into account the average score on all entrepreneurial framework conditions measured by the report — for2023-2024. The Emirates recorded the highest ever score for the index at 7.7, recognizing it as the best place worldwide to start and conduct new business ventures. The country ranked the highest on 12 out of 13 indicators.
