More pilgrims to the Dubai Mall than Mecca and the Vatican

Dubai Mall aquarium
Dubai Mall aquarium

Middle East mall in the UAE is the most visited site in the world in 2023.

In a sad state of affairs for humanity, a mall in Dubai has become the most visited place in the world, in 2023. Dubai Mall said it achieved a record-breaking 105 million visitors in 2023, a 19% increase from the previous year, making it the most visited place globally. The Eiffel Tower saw 6.3 million people in the same time frame, the Giza pyramid, 14 million, and a Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, called Hajj, attracted 13.5 pilgrims in 2023.

New figures released by the Dubai Mall on Tuesday also showed a staggering 20 million people visited the mall in the first two months of this year alone, with 2024 set to be another record year. Events like the Dubai Shopping Festival and digital engagement have been key to its success.

Read Also: Dubai Mall sells dinosaur bones – should ancient artifacts be up for sale?

Dubai Mall dinosaur
Dubai Mall dinosaur

“These numbers reflect Dubai Mall’s impressive status and mirrors the forward-thinking leadership and strong economy of Dubai. Our mall embodies the city’s vibrant spirit and dedication to excellence, turning the leadership’s vision into a reality. Being an integral part of Dubai’s economic fabric, we play a crucial role in the city’s success and innovation,” said Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar.

Dubai Mall entrance at twilight
Dubai Mall entrance at twilight

There is no clearer symbol of Dubai’s excess than the world’s tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa, which stands in close proximity to the mall. Nor is there a more appropriate example of the Emirate’s shabby urban planning. It has approximately 160 floors and no.on-site.human.waste.system! Instead of flowing through a network of carefully-laid piping to a municipal waste treatment center, every day some poor unfortunate soul has to truck approximately 8 tonnes of human waste from this skyscraper and sit in line for up to 24 hours to have it dumped.

How does a Dubai Mall compare to other world sites of interest?

The Vatican

The Vatican City in Rome is the smallest country in the world, and its own city-state ruled by the Pope. According to statistics sent out by the Vatican it receives over 5 million visitors a year.

The Eiffel Tower

In 2023, the year in which France celebrated the 100th anniversary of Gustave Eiffel’s passing, the Eiffel Tower welcomed 6.3 million visitors. Both national and international tourists seem to be fond of the monument and, with the Olympics coming to Paris in 2024, a promising new touristic year has started for the Eiffel Tower.

Pyramids of Giza

Over 14 million people visited the Pyramids of Giza last year making it one of the most popular tourist sites in the world. Additionally, Giza is known for it’s punishing desert heat.
The Old City of Jerusalem
Estimates suggest about 3 to 4 million people visited Israel last year, and most of those visitors saw Jerusalem, and the Western Wall, and the Dome of the Rock in the Old City.
Mecca
There are 2 billion Muslims in the world, and Saudi Arabia has reported that over 13.5 million Muslims undertook the Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca in 2023, marking a record-breaking year for Islam’s holiest city and representing a 58% increase in international pilgrims compared to 2022.

 

Karin Kloosterman
Karin Kloostermanhttp://www.greenprophet.com
Karin Kloosterman is an award-winning journalist, innovation strategist, and founder of Green Prophet, one of the Middle East’s pioneering sustainability platforms. She has ranked in the Top 10 of Verizon innovation competitions, participated in NASA-linked challenges, and spoken worldwide on climate, food security, and future resilience. With an IoT technology patent, features in Canada’s National Post, and leadership inside teams building next-generation agricultural and planetary systems — including Mars-farming concepts — Karin operates at the intersection of storytelling, science, and systems change. She doesn’t report on the future – she helps design it. Reach out directly to [email protected]

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