When it comes to building jigsaw puzzles, my personal limit is around 100 pieces because I’m a weakling with no patience, time or energy.

Meanwhile, there are some out there who can work with 500 pieces, and then there are others who are capable of fiddling with more than 1 000 pieces.

Think that’s impressive? You’ll need to do more than to catch up with the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), which just broke the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest jigsaw puzzle by surface area.

In honour of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the DMCC built a 12 230-piece wooden jigsaw, with a surface area of 6 000m² in his image.

It’s the same length as an Olympic-sized swimming pool, if you like odd comparisons.

Business Insider SA reports that the previous record for the world’s largest jigsaw puzzle was set in Hong Kong in 2002, for a puzzle which measured 5 428 m².

Geez, what a savage way for Dubai to say “Sorry, Hong Kong, your time is up now”.

DMCC executive chairperson Ahmed Bin Sulayem (pictured above, right) and his team are no doubt chuffed with their jigsaw tribute, which he said is a part of nationwide celebrations dubbed “The year of Zayed”:

The remarkable growth story that is the modern United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the direct result of [Zayed’s] ambitious vision for the country, and resolute determination to bring it to fruition.

His Highness was confident, charismatic, encouraged the continuous pursuit of excellence and made bold decisions in the face of uncertainty.

I’m sure Zayed would have loved the idea of being immortalised in a massive puzzle – I know I would.

Judging by the slightly derpy facial expression, he must have been fun at parties.

An impressive effort, but I’m gonna stay in my 100 piece lane, thank you very much.

[source:businessinsidersa]