Three UAE-Based Indian Skydivers Unfurl Tricolour at 13,000ft in Guinness World Record Feet
By Thasmiya
Three Indian expatriates living in the UAE have helped set a **Guinness World Record after jumping from an aircraft at 13,000 feet while carrying the Indian national flag**.
Dubai-based Jamsheer Thanalot and Abu Dhabi residents Abhishek Rawat and Isha Raj were among 65 skydivers who took part in the high-risk jump over Benghazi, Libya, on August 7. The record was officially confirmed only days later, just ahead of India’s 80th Independence Day. ([Khaleej Times](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-expat-skydivers-indian-flag-guinness-world-record?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
## **What record did they set?**
The attempt brought together **65 skydivers from around 38 nationalities**, carrying roughly 35 different national flags.
Guinness World Records recognised the feat for the **most skydivers jumping together with national flags from a single aircraft**. Each participant had to exit the aircraft, safely deploy their parachute, unfurl a large national flag and complete the landing inside a designated verification zone. ([Gulf News](https://gulfnews.com/uae/three-indian-expats-in-uae-fly-indian-flag-at-13000ft-in-guinness-world-records-skydive-1.500641981?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
For the three UAE-based Indians, the successful jump meant seeing the Indian Tricolour flying thousands of feet above Libya alongside flags from countries around the world.
## **Who were the three Indian skydivers?**
The UAE-based participants representing India were:
- **Jamsheer Thanalot**, originally from Kannur, Kerala, and based in Dubai - **Abhishek Rawat**, originally from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, and based in Abu Dhabi - **Isha Raj**, originally from Patna, Bihar, and based in Abu Dhabi
All three are experienced skydivers and part of the UAE skydiving community. ([Khaleej Times](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-expat-skydivers-indian-flag-guinness-world-record?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Jamsheer has completed more than **320 jumps**, while Abhishek has more than **1,200 jumps** and also works as a skydiving coach. Isha has completed more than **210 jumps**. ([Gulf News](https://gulfnews.com/uae/three-indian-expats-in-uae-fly-indian-flag-at-13000ft-in-guinness-world-records-skydive-1.500641981?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
## **Abhishek and Isha are also husband and wife**
The achievement had another special connection: Abhishek Rawat and Isha Raj are married.
The Abu Dhabi-based couple told Gulf News that they began their married life in the UAE and have lived in the country for around 11 years. Isha also said they had previously become the first Indian civilian couple to jump together in India. ([Gulf News](https://gulfnews.com/uae/three-indian-expats-in-uae-fly-indian-flag-at-13000ft-in-guinness-world-records-skydive-1.500641981?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Together with Jamsheer, they were the only three Indian participants in the 65-member record attempt.
## **Why was the jump so difficult?**
This was not an ordinary skydive.
With dozens of skydivers leaving the same aircraft within a very short period, participants had to maintain separation while opening their parachutes and flags.
The large flags created an additional risk because the material or suspension lines could become entangled with a parachute. Each skydiver therefore had to control the flag while constantly monitoring the people descending nearby. ([Khaleej Times](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-expat-skydivers-indian-flag-guinness-world-record?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Landing was equally important.
Every participant had to touch down inside a designated area covered by cameras so Guinness World Records could verify the attempt. According to the participants, a landing outside the marked zone could have invalidated the record. ([Gulf News](https://gulfnews.com/uae/three-indian-expats-in-uae-fly-indian-flag-at-13000ft-in-guinness-world-records-skydive-1.500641981?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
## **Three qualification jumps came first**
The team travelled to Libya before the record attempt and completed **three training and qualification jumps**.
Only skydivers who successfully completed those preparations were allowed to participate in the final attempt. ([Khaleej Times](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-expat-skydivers-indian-flag-guinness-world-record?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Jamsheer said the pressure was significant enough that he slept for only around three hours on the night before the record attempt. Some of the other participants had thousands of jumps of experience, adding to the scale of the challenge for comparatively newer skydivers. ([Khaleej Times](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-expat-skydivers-indian-flag-guinness-world-record?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
## **A Dubai journey from salesman to world-record holder**
Jamsheer’s story also reflects a very different journey in the UAE.
Originally from Kannur, he arrived in the UAE in 2011 and initially worked as a salesman earning **Dh1,200 a month**. He later worked in sales and service roles before establishing his own Dubai-based e-commerce business. ([Khaleej Times](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-expat-skydivers-indian-flag-guinness-world-record?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
He started skydiving only around four years ago but has since completed more than 320 jumps in the UAE and abroad.
Jamsheer credited Emirati skydiver Saif Mattar, his trainer and team manager, for giving him the confidence and opportunity to participate in the record attempt. ([Khaleej Times](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-expat-skydivers-indian-flag-guinness-world-record?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
## **Record confirmed just before Independence Day**
The jump itself was completed on **August 7**, rather than being specifically organised for India’s Independence Day.
However, Guinness World Records had to review the supporting evidence before officially confirming the achievement. The confirmation arrived shortly before **August 15**, giving the three Indian expatriates an especially meaningful reason to celebrate. ([Khaleej Times](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-expat-skydivers-indian-flag-guinness-world-record?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Jamsheer described representing India alongside participants from dozens of countries as a proud moment.
## **Who organised the jump?**
The event was organised by **Skydive Benghazi** with support from members of the international skydiving team, including Saif Matar and other organisers involved in coordinating the attempt. ([Khaleej Times](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-expat-skydivers-indian-flag-guinness-world-record?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
The participants had to meet strict qualification and landing requirements for their jumps to count towards the Guinness World Record.
## **Why this matters**
The achievement combines sport, national pride and the UAE’s diverse expatriate community.
Three Indians who built their lives and skydiving experience in the UAE were able to represent their home country in an international record attempt involving dozens of nationalities.
The timing of the Guinness confirmation, just before India’s 80th Independence Day, made the sight of the Tricolour flying at 13,000 feet especially significant for the participants and the Indian community in the UAE.
## **FAQs**
### **Who were the three UAE-based Indian skydivers?**
They were Jamsheer Thanalot, Abhishek Rawat and Isha Raj. ([Khaleej Times](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-expat-skydivers-indian-flag-guinness-world-record?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **How high did they jump from?**
The skydivers exited the aircraft at approximately **13,000 feet** above Benghazi, Libya. ([Khaleej Times](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-expat-skydivers-indian-flag-guinness-world-record?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **How many skydivers participated?**
A total of **65 skydivers** took part in the record-setting attempt. ([Gulf News](https://gulfnews.com/uae/three-indian-expats-in-uae-fly-indian-flag-at-13000ft-in-guinness-world-records-skydive-1.500641981?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **How many nationalities were represented?**
Participants came from around **38 nationalities**, with approximately 35 different national flags represented. ([Khaleej Times](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-expat-skydivers-indian-flag-guinness-world-record?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **When did the record attempt happen?**
The jump took place on **August 7, 2026**. Guinness World Records confirmed the achievement several days later, shortly before India’s Independence Day. ([Khaleej Times](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-expat-skydivers-indian-flag-guinness-world-record?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **Where did the world-record skydive take place?**
It took place over **Benghazi, Libya**. ([Khaleej Times](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-expat-skydivers-indian-flag-guinness-world-record?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **Were the three skydivers experienced?**
Yes. Together, the three had completed well over 1,500 skydives before the attempt. ([Gulf News](https://gulfnews.com/uae/three-indian-expats-in-uae-fly-indian-flag-at-13000ft-in-guinness-world-records-skydive-1.500641981?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
## **Source Credits**
Information source and resource owners: Guinness World Records, Skydive Benghazi, participating skydivers Jamsheer Thanalot, Abhishek Rawat and Isha Raj, Khaleej Times and Gulf News.
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