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DUBAI: A replica of India's world-famous Taj Mahal, four times the size of the original, is to be built in Dubai as what is to be billed as the world's grandest wedding venue, one of its developers said.
It took the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan 22 years to build the marble mausoleum for his queen 360 years ago, but the copy, to be known as Taj Arabia, is expected to take only two years.
The billion-dollar (767 million-euro) project will be set in the heart of the 41 million square foot Falcon City of Wonders on Emirates Road, said Arun Mehra, chairman of sub-developers Link Global Group, at the annual Cityscape Global real estate exposition in Dubai.
“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,” Mehra told
Gulf News.
Surrounded by lush green landscaping, including the famous Mughal Gardens, the “New City of Love” will have several architecturally themed residential and commercial buildings.
Taj Arabia will be a five-star hotel property with 300 rooms. It will be flanked by seven mixed-use buildings, two of which will have 200 serviced apartments.
“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,” said Mehra.
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On DawnNews
Comments (50) Closed
Oct 05, 2012 03:54pm
I mean Shahjahan...
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Oct 06, 2012 08:54am
It is disrespect to the love of an emperor and the people of India. The same is really on the Indian developer who is willing to sell the most beloved part of Indian history.
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Oct 05, 2012 02:30pm
How about treating the the people (laborer) fairly who work on these projects.
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Oct 05, 2012 02:16pm
I visited Dubai and observed the huge,beautiful malls like palaces, with designers merchandise , quite expensive in fact, but there were no buyers.
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Oct 05, 2012 12:50pm
Wow thats cool. I am all for it. Go make more of it. It will make Agra the destination of the world.
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Oct 06, 2012 07:25am
madnesss...
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Oct 06, 2012 05:37am
It is not the wise and fare steps to spend billions of dollars just for the luxurious entertainment of few rich families where billions of world populations are starving and struggling for their three times food and millions are sleeping without food.
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Oct 05, 2012 01:28pm
It is more important to do innovation rather than going for replicas and copy paste activities.But overall a luxurious way to burn money...
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Oct 06, 2012 01:56am
Why don't you sue Las Vegas for making replicas of Taj Mahal, Effal tower,and Egypt's pyramids.
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Oct 06, 2012 10:46am
The Taj Mahal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site & is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. UNESCO documented more than 2 million visitors at the Taj Mahal in 2001. And now, according to Wikipedia, the number of visitors are more than 3 million per year. So, at least few people care for the Taj Mahal. In fact, the above mentioned billion-dollar replica is itself a testimony to that.
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Oct 05, 2012 01:47pm
India should take them to court.
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Oct 05, 2012 01:40pm
Shame for Pakistan.
Pakistan should have been able to build it in their country. It was more proper for Pakistan to have that desire.
The whole world is going ahead, and Pakistan is running backword at its full speed. But, thank God for the NUKES. :(
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Oct 05, 2012 09:04am
Plenty of money to burn and this oil money keeps coming regardless of big project failures.
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Oct 05, 2012 12:53pm
I think it is being built in the memory of Princess Misha'al bint Fahd al Saud.
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Oct 06, 2012 12:32pm
100% agreed with "KhanChangezKhan ". It would be great if this huge investment goes to poor or needy peoples.
Allah give them Guidence and Hidayah -- Ameen
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Oct 06, 2012 12:53pm
Nood a bad idea, but why not establish a great university. It will not only bring in good business but also do some long term favour to the people around Dubai.
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Oct 06, 2012 05:42am
It's not Indian patented property, it's Mughal's who patented, therefore, only they can calim for it. Are anyone of them alive to come forward for claim???????????????
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Oct 06, 2012 01:49am
In 1936 ? What are you talking about. Shah Jahan was making Taj Mahal?
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Oct 06, 2012 12:02am
What a waste in a bankrupt nation like Dubai!
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Oct 06, 2012 02:43am
@aniket:
Harvard University was established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. And not in 1936 as you seem to think.
Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal--one of the seven wonders of the world--in 20years: From 1630 to 1650AD approximately.
Along with the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan left a grand legacy of Islamic Architecture: The Taj Mahal; Red Fort/Delhi Fort; Agra Fort; Jama Masjid; Wazir Khan Mosque; Moti Pearl Masjid; Shalimar Gardens; Lahore Fort; Jahangir Mausoleum; Shahjahan Mosque. And the Peacock Throne__Takht e Taus.
Shah Jahan placed profound sublime verses from the Noble Qur
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Oct 06, 2012 03:22am
What this lies bare is the GREATEST lie propogated in the Muslim world (& believed by Muslims ALL OVER THE WORLD) that America is out stealing their resources, while the reality is America is paying phenomenal amounts to buy their ONE & ONLY resources OIL.
And, this lie along with the other lie about the "so-called: Palestinian people who in reality belong in Jordan, are used by Muslims WORLDWIDE to hate America.
While in reality it's the intolerance of Muslims that makes them hate America and the entire infidel world, fact that can never be changed!
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Oct 06, 2012 07:26am
1936?????
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Oct 06, 2012 05:19am
very nice word
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Oct 06, 2012 09:15am
it would be wonderful.
would visit for sure.
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Oct 05, 2012 09:57am
This design and model is India's patented property. As per International Patent Laws it can't be copied.
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Oct 06, 2012 03:49pm
I am 100% agreed with "KhanChangezKhan ". It would be nice to spend this much money for the poor or needy people
May Allah give them guidance and Hidaya -- Ameen
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Oct 06, 2012 08:59pm
Will it make money? Nice to see Islamic rulers putting their billions to good use, shame its not helping the poor, half-starving 1bn musims in the world
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Oct 06, 2012 09:17pm
Shame on you.
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Oct 06, 2012 07:25pm
Oh yes Moughul's lineage is still there... they are living near Kolkata... the family of 4th son of bahadur shah zafar-ii. they can easily claim the patent for what their on of the forefathers made.
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Oct 06, 2012 03:52pm
Ah, Agha Sahib,
Do you really think that this is something that Pakistan should be worried for instead of buliding an instituation like Harvard, Al-Azhar, Cambridge and Oxford? We need to spend money on Providing clean water, basic education and healthcare and not creating mabel megastructures for the amusement of rich. Poor Dubai... Have lots of buildings but not a single world-class educational institution of its own.
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Oct 06, 2012 04:53pm
in coming centuries it will confuse the historians as Which one is original Taj Mahal
As there is so many ambiguous history left for us
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Oct 05, 2012 01:38pm
No one cares about the Taj Mahal in India or Taj Arabia ..... but its so funny to see the Indians furious over this news :)
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Oct 05, 2012 11:09am
India should drag these people to courts!!!
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Oct 05, 2012 10:35am
Harvard university was established 1936. During the same time, the Moghal emperor Shah Jahan thought spending huge amount on the tomb of a dead wife is more appropriate. Arabs keeping this great tradition alive...:))
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Oct 05, 2012 10:42am
Hey, if Vegas can have its Eiffel Tower, let Dubai can have its Taj...
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Oct 05, 2012 04:57pm
Really? Sahjahan was a Muslim and the two Muslim states carved out of India are the actual heirs to the copyright of Taj Mahal or any other monument built by the Muslims
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Oct 06, 2012 02:15am
Just like original Taj this also will be built by modern day slaves from S. Asia who would be paid paltry wages. This cannot happen in western world
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Oct 05, 2012 11:35pm
Real waste of money. Why can't these rich Arab Shaikhs think of starvation in Africa and other parts of the world.
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Oct 05, 2012 06:38pm
It's an insult to the Taj Mahal of India. There should be only 1 Taj Mahal in the world.
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Oct 06, 2012 06:32am
Alas! they should replicate Harvard and Oxford universities for their future generations.
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Oct 05, 2012 08:12pm
Dubai has nothing better to do than waste its resources. As a Pakistani, I believe that the original Taj Mahal cannot be "replicated". The majesty and charm of the Taj Mahal lies in the reasons for its construction, not just how the building looks. Our Arab brothers tend to spend excessively on silly projects like this one. All oil money...
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Oct 05, 2012 08:13pm
are you sure the university was established in 1936? I think something went wrong. Because in 1936 British were ruling this part of world. right?
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Oct 05, 2012 09:09pm
Harvard university was established 1636. I think you rotated the second digit by 180
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Oct 05, 2012 09:20pm
It's an insult to the original Taj Mahal of India. There should be only 1 Taj Mahal in the world. It should not be copied.
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Oct 05, 2012 09:59pm
Hey Aniket. i think harvard was established well before 1936. You might want to double check that before you actually post something.
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Oct 05, 2012 11:30pm
It will be failure like Burj Dubai
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Oct 06, 2012 04:31am
Shah Jahan wasted 22 years of building of Taj Mahal with 24,000 workers. If he spent this money for educational university, library, research/scientific lab so it would be the better works.
However, Dubai repeating the failure of Shah Jahan. They are also less focused on education.
Believe! education is one of the strong factor which is needed in Emirates as well.
By Shahrukh Rehman
Pakistan
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Oct 05, 2012 05:50pm
You mean Taj Mahal was built in 1936?
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Oct 06, 2012 04:50am
good news.
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Oct 05, 2012 11:02pm
Get your year right!
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