The people of the United Arab Emirates, especially Dubai, should be proud that their country has, in the past few years, become one of the most developed economies in Western Asia. Its major construction projects have turned Dubai into one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. It has recently acquired various building-related records, including the world's tallest tower (Burj Khalifa), the world's largest shopping centre, the world's largest fountain and the world's tallest hotel. There are now reports that Dubai is planning to undertake a Dh44.07 billion project to build a replica of the Taj Mahal and the other wonders of the world. The copy of the Mughal-era structure, to be called the Taj Arabia complex, will include a 300-room hotel, shops and commercial buildings. Apparently, the idea is to lure tourists by letting them enjoy replicas of the wonders of the world, all in one rich city, Dubai. However, this idea might not be wise, because these wonders reflect the cultures of other countries; the original wonders still attract many tourists from around the world. The oil-rich Gulf state might have the financial ability to build a great replica of the white marble mausoleum found in the Indian city of Agra. But it won't be able to recreate the cultural circumstances that prompted Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to build this edifice in the 17th century in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Most of the visitors to this Indian wonder are in fact attracted by the love story behind it, rather than the fantastic structure and its magnificent setting. The Emirati people have really done something wonderful and don't need to copy other countries' wonders. Why don't the respected rulers of this rich Arab country invest the huge sum for building the replica, estimated at $12 billion, in developing the very poor Arab and Muslim countries instead?
