Dubai puts itself on the ‘I’m-too-ridiculous-to-be-true’ map again. This time by planning to build a replica of the Taj Mahal and naming it ‘Taj Arabia’
I am not sure how may more of these posts on outlandish Dubai construction projects I can write. I mean I have my limits – although, quite clearly, Dubai doesn’t seem to. Following underwater hotels, artificial islands and the world’s tallest buildings, Dubai is now working on replicating some of the world’s most important cultural sites as part of a 3.8 million square meter ‘Falconcity of Wonders’ project. CEO of Falconcity, Salem al-Moosa told Al Arabiya that the project aims to “engrave Dubai’s place in the minds and hearts of world citizens”. I think that Dubai may be better able to do by not ripping off important heritage sites and placing them in an freakish amusement park of sorts.
Taj Arabia is purported to be “three to four times” bigger than the original Taj Mahal, with investors disclosing the project’s cost to a monumental $1 billion. The investors anticipate the project to be completed by the end of 2014. Developers say it will be used for weddings and also as a backdrop for Bollywood movies.
Not content with a steriod-pumped Taj Mahal, the project will also include the architectural highlights of sites such as the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids, the hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Eiffel Tower and a replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Big Ben and London Bridge are also expected to make an appearance, and malls and luxury hotel will obviously make up part of the mix.
7 Days in Dubai reported that although the entire project was originally announced more than five years ago, backers insist the Taj build is “now a reality”. God help us.
For more on the Dubai property scene see:
We Need Five Worlds to Live like the United Arab Emirates
Luxury Underwater Discus Hotel Close to Anchoring in the Gulf
Dubai Inaugurates World’s Tallest Building – Burj Khalifa
Author: Arwa Aburawa
Arwa is a Muslim freelance writer who is interested in everything climate change related and how Islam can inspire more people to care for their planet and take active steps to save it while we can. She is endlessly suspicious of all politicians and their ceaseless meetings, especially as they make normal people believe that they are not part of the solution when they are the ONLY solution. Her Indian auntie is her model eco-warrier, and when Arwa is not busy helping out in the neighborhood alleyway garden, swap shopping or attempting fusion vegetarian dishes- with mixed success, she’d like to add- she can be found sipping on foraged nettle tea.
Waste of money and resources. Soon Arabs will have nothing from Arabs culture. Bunch of buildings without history and soul!!!
obscene, ‘freakish’, amusement park…and a huge waste of money and natural resources to entertain ppl to death…in other words: Las Vegas on steroids. ironic how eager investors are to replicate ‘wonders of the world’ when so many historic sites, temples of antiquity, etc are being destroy by war. 🙁 this is really a sad commentary on our world and on the vision of an Islamic country such as Saudi Arabia. how much do they do to help the ppl of poor Muslim countries such as Syria, etc? over 1 billion for this planned Taj Mahal-WannaBe?
I really don’t know how I feel about this. On the one hand, some monuments are not made to be replicated. It’s almost as if Dubai have no notion of aesthetic value! On the other, superficial nationalist competition alongside a facade of globalization, concerning who can build the highest buildings, who can come outperform the other, may serve as some creative and innovative hub. Who knows what their incentives are these days!