New GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title set in Dubai!

World’s Longest Painting created, to raise awareness about autism, spearheaded by Al Tayer Group

13 December 2015 

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ today confirmed the successful attempt to create the world’s longest painting at an impressive 10.85 km, as recorded by their official adjudicator Mr. Samer Khallouf, at an event held at Dubai Autodrome.   This was the result of an eight-month long campaign titled ‘I’m Different Just Like You’, spearheaded by Al Tayer Group, in partnership with Dubai Autism Center, designed to help increase awareness about autism in the local communities. 

The campaign was designed as an educational platform, which was first rolled out to GEMS Education and Taaleem schools after the Spring break in 2015.  With the co-operation of school administrators and teachers, children were introduced to the initiative via a series of assemblies, where they learned about autism and the importance of being more accepting of the differences of their peers.  Every child, from the age of 2 to 18 years, was invited to participate in the campaign by painting a self-portrait on a supplied canvas which, when joined together, would create the world’s longest painting. 

Al Tayer Group also held a series of in-store events to involve the wider community in the effort, as well as their Dubai based staff members.  All participants received an informational leaflet about the ‘I’m Different Just Like You’ campaign as well as a badge that says ‘I Care I’m Aware’. 

Speaking about the initiative, Khalid Al Tayer, CEO Retail, Al Tayer Group said “we are so happy to witness the coming together of more than 20,000 children, parents, teachers, staff and other community members in the ‘‘I’m Different Just Like You’ campaign over the past eight months, and to see so many of them here with us today, sharing our success.  Without their passion and commitment to the cause, celebrating and recognizing the uniqueness of all children, we would not have broken the world record, and more importantly increased awareness about autism which affects 1 in every 88 children in the world.”

“Dubai is always different in being the ‘one of its kind’ in everything and this new Guinness World Record showcases that. When it comes to such an almost epidemic, in having a tremendous increase of diagnosis of Autism, we need to target the young generation, so that they may become a voice for Autism. “I’m Different Just Like You” is that voice.  On behalf of Dubai Autism Center, we wish to thank Al Tayer Group and all those that participated in putting together this great initiative,” said Sara Ahmad Baker, Community Service Unit Head, Dubai Autism Center.

Dino Varkey, Group Executive Director and Board Member, GEMS Education said, “We are proud that our students were able to be a part of this initiative. The ‘I’m Different Just Like You’, campaign carries a very strong message, and it is closely connected to the values we try to instill in each GEMS Student. We want to congratulate the Al Tayer Group on successfully bringing another Guinness World Record to the UAE.”

Ros Marshall CEO Taaleem commented “We felt very privileged indeed to be asked to participate in this innovative initiative to raise awareness of autism in the region. The whole Al Tayer team worked selflessly and tirelessly to engage with our students and community to deliver an empathetic understanding of autism and its effects on children and young adults.   Now ‘we all care and are aware’.   A new Guinness World Record is a very fitting award to celebrate the success of this campaign.”

Sponsors of the initiative were All About, who stitched the individual canvases; Aramex, who provided logistical support in transporting the canvases and materials; Capraol, who supplied all aprons, paint and paintbrushes; and Somji Advertising, who provided support on the purchase of the canvases.