After building some of the tallest man-made structures of the world like Burj Khalif and Burj Al Arab, Dubai is now planning to build a replica of the India's monumental Taj Mahal.
On Thursday, the Arab emirate revealed its billion-dollar plan to build its very own "Taj Arabia", which would be four times the size of the current-standing monument built in the 17th century in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
The Dubai version of the 360-year-old structure will be quite different and will include a shopping centre, five-star hotel, serviced apartments and bridal wear stores.
The construction of the original Taj Mahal took 22 years. Developers of the Taj Arabia claimed that the new project will be finished by 2014 and will be called "New City of Love".
"Marriage is a celebration. It needs to be announced and glorified. Currently Dubai is not regarded as a wedding destination. People go to Bali and other exotic places to marry. Now they will come to Taj Arabia," Xpress newspaper quoted Arun Mehra, the chairman of the Link Global Group, sub-developers of the billion-dollar project, as saying.
"Taj Arabia will not be a 100 per cent replica as it has a different purpose. That said, we definitely want to create the same spirit of love and passion in today's modern times when divorce rates are fast picking up," Mehra added.
With this new project developers are hoping that it will become a new wedding destination.
"Traditionally in the UAE and the sub-continent, marriage is not just a union of two people but also their families. The serviced apartments beside Taj Arabia will be ideal for wedding guests as they will have 10 large bedrooms and a hall. We want to create an atmosphere which bonds family members," Mehra said.
According to the developers, some Bollywood producers have shown interest in using the new Taj Arabia as a film location in future.
Taj Arabia will be located at Falconcity of Wonders - an upcoming multi-purpose project which will features famous monuments like the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China, the Great Pyramids, Hanging Gardens and Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Check out the proposed images of the Taj Arabia below:
