Dubai to Build New Taj Mahal, Four Times Larger than Original [PHOTOS]

Having built some of the world's tallest skyscrapers, like the Burj Al Arab and the Burj Khalifa and an incredible man-made archipelago - The World - in the shape of the seven continents, Dubai has become a go-to centre for expressions of modern architecture.

And now, to add another feather to its cap, Dubai plans to build its own Taj Mahal - called Taj Arabia - a replica of the marble monument in India. The Taj Arabia will be four times bigger than the original building, which was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, in the 17th century.

However, the Dubai version of the Taj Mahal is to be different. Whereas the original, the one in India, is actually a mausoleum for Shah Jahan and his wife, the one in Dubai is to be a five-star hotel and serve as a wedding destination.

The two structures will also vary in time taken for completion. It took about 22 years to build the Taj Mahal whereas developers claim the Taj Arabia will be finished in two years.

However, the essence of both monuments will be the same - 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," Arun Mehra, the chairman of the Link Global Group, sub-developers of the billion-dollar project, was quoted as saying by the Xpress, a sister newspaper of Gulf News.

"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.

As a venue for weddings, Taj Arabia will offer around 300 rooms and 200 serviced apartments as well as marriage halls. Taj Arabia will be located at Falconcity of Wonders, a forthcoming mega-city project, which, besides the Taj Mahal's replica, will also feature replicas of other Wonders of the world, including the Pyramids, the Hanging Gardens, the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China and Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Check out photographs suggesting what the completed Taj Arabia could look like