Father and son duo from Abu Dhabi 'really happy' to be part of record-breaking travel group

Mohamed Thahir is already planning his next Guinness attempt, this time in the UAE

Mohamed Thahir and his son Aayan during their record-breaking journey through India. Photo courtesy Mohamed Thahir 
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An IT professional based in Abu Dhabi and his young son have added Guinness World Record breaker to their list of achievements after the group they were travelling with visited the most Unesco World Heritage sites in less than 12 hours using public transport.

Mohamed Thahir, 36, and his son Mohamed Aayan, 5, along with the other members of the Triumph Expeditions & Transcend Adventures group claimed the title last month in India after making stops at seven heritage sites within a 300-kilometre radius in 11 hours, 33 minutes and 18 seconds.

The 22-strong group began their quest at the Taj Mahal, Agra, at 5.20am on July 8, 2018, going on to visit Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh, Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan, and Humayun Tomb, Red Fort, before finishing the expedition at Qutub Minar in Delhi at 4.54pm.

Methods of transport used to achieve the result included electric rickshaws, cars, cabs, public buses, trains, the Metro and their own feet (walking or running).

Thahir, who has been in the UAE for eight years working, undertook the challenge not only to raise awareness of his country's World Heritage sites but because he wanted to do something meaningful with his son.

“The experience was really amazing and we are really happy that we break the record,” Thahir adds, noting that it wasn’t without its challenges, especially given Aayan was the youngest in the group.

“It was exhausting … hot and humid. Aayan surprised all of us by walking the last stretch of 2.5 kilometres [without assistance].”

The father and son duo were given a hero’s welcome when they returned to the UAE by their friends and family and are planning their next challenge already.

“This time we’re planning to get a Guinness World Record in the UAE on a different topic,” says Thahir.

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