The Taj Arabia aims to be completed by mid-2015, the developer behind the project said.
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Construction of the Taj Arabia, the $1 billion replica of the Taj Mahal, is set to begin by June 2013 in Falconcity, the sprawling mega-project on the outskirts of Dubai, the developer behind the project has announced.
In a report by Gulf News, Arun Mehra, director of Link Global, said that the 400 room, five star hotel, would be managed by Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, an Indian based hotel operator with 15 palace hotels.
He added that Link Global looked to have the project completed by mid-2015.
Taj Arabia is being marketed as a wedding destination, Mehra said, adding that it would overlook a retail area that would specialise in gold and wedding outfits. He added that the developer had seen a strong response from retailers looking to set up shop in development.
“The response has been very good, from local jewellers who own large chains and others outside Dubai,” he told Gulf News.
He said Taj Arabia will be designed, like Taj Mahal, on the theme of love.
“The Taj Mahal is a monument of love. Taj Arabia is designed on the theme of a monument of love,” Mehra said.
Part of the project will be dedicated to the ‘Moghul Gardens’, a retail area that will specialise in wedding requirements, including a wedding hall with the capacity for 3,000 guests and two serviced apartment buildings for wedding guests, he added.
The Taj Arabia is part of a wider development that will see replicas of the Seven Wonders of the World built on the massive development.
Arab Engineering Consultants have been appointed to design and supervise the Small Pyramid, which is one of three pyramids that make up one of the Wonders of the World, the newspaper said.
FWC officials declined to comment on the project.