Egypt breaks world record for longest Ramadan iftar table

Egypt has set a new record for the longest iftar table in the world, beating previous holders the United Arab Emirates.

Iftar is the meal Muslims eat to break their fast at sunset during the holy month of Ramadan.

The gigantic table was over 3,000 metres long and hosted over 7,000 people in Egypt's New Administrative Capital, or NAC.

The event was attended by a representative from the Guinness World Records.

The previous record was set in 2018 in the UAE, with a table measuring 2,983 metres and serving 6,000 people.

While the record was celebrated on Egyptian social media, many users also criticised the misallocation of funds in the new capital city, a project already plagued by overspending amid widespread poverty.

The NAC megacity, Egyptian strongman Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's brainchild, has been denounced by many Egyptians.

Egypt's economy is still dwindling after the 2011 uprising ushered in political and economic instability, and austerity measures imposed by Sisi to qualify for IMF loans are biting poor and middle class Egyptians.

Sisi has struggled to attract foreign investment into the country, with plans by Chinese companies to invest $20 million into the new capital collapsing last year.