DUBAI: Dubai Aquarium and Discovery Centre in The Dubai Mall has clinched the Guinness World Record for the ‘World’s Largest Acrylic Panel’. The aquarium, which opens its doors to public on Tuesday is free to view for mall visitors.

Measuring 32.88 metres in width, 8.3 metres in height, 750mm in thickness and weighing 245,614kg, the acrylic viewing panel at Dubai Aquarium and Discovery Centre surpasses the current Guinness World Record holder, Churaumi Aquarium in Okinawa, Japan – 22.5 metres wide x 8.2 metres high and 600 mm thick. The new record is expected to be featured in the upcoming edition of the Guinness Book of World Records in 2010.

The acrylic viewing panel at Dubai Aquarium and Discovery Centre was at the limit of production abilities by major acrylic manufacturers when the project was commissioned. This implies the Guinness World Record for the ‘World’s Largest Acrylic Panel’ at Dubai Aquarium and Discovery Centre is set to stay until industry-approved manufacturing capabilities are redrawn to enable the production of bigger panels.

The viewing panel was commissioned under the supervision of Oceanis Australia Group, the aquarium designer and operator.

With a thickness of 750mm, the acrylic viewing panel is built to withstand the enormous pressure of 10 million litres of water used in the aquarium, but transparent enough to give visitors clear views of the 33,000 plus marine animals.

Yousif Al Ali, General Manager, The Dubai Mall, said: “Dubai Aquarium and Discovery Centre is setting history with the Guinness World Record. With this record-breaking achievement, we are also highlighting the capabilities of Emaar and Dubai to undertake and execute projects of global significance.”

John Pilley, Adjudicator, Guinness World Records said: “Dubai has many exciting world record achievements and The Dubai Mall once again reiterates the can-do attitude of Dubai.”