Move aside Lebanon, there might be a new record holder in town. It seems Saudi Arabia may have just set the world record for the longest iftar table, which means beating current title holders Lebanon. The small nation broke a Guinness World Record last year with the help of non-profit organization Ajialouna for organizing the 'longest iftar table' in the world stretching 2,184 meters long.
This year’s record for the longest iftar table was set on June 6 by residents in Saudi Arabia’s southern city of Jizan. The table was laid out in the city’s municipal park and participants later prayed together in a designated area, as reported by Saudi news daily Okaz. Details on how many people were in attendance and how long the table have yet to be published.
Last year’s record breaking gathering in Lebanon was held under the theme "Ramadan in the Heart," gathering over 5,000 people from all over the country at Beirut's Waterfront on June 9, 2017. The iftar was made possible with the help of 600 volunteers and on the menu were mouthwatering favorites such as 10,000 roasted chickens, 5,600 meat pastries, 15,000 dates, salads, rice dishes, and maamoul. Before Lebanon nabbed the title in 2017, Ghana held the world title for the longest iftar table at 1,928 meters long.
According to Al-Madina, it seems the Saudi Arabian city of Medina may be gearing up to break Jizan’s record on Friday, June 17, with the help of 10,000 volunteers. The table, which is set to stretch 4 kilometers, will comprise 4,500 tables and will feed 25,000 people. Gulf News reported earlier this month that Dubai’s police force may have actually taken this year’s Guinness World Record for organizing the longest iftar table in the world, reportedly stretching 6 kilometers and hosting over 12,800 workers.
