Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque among top landmarks 2016

Iconic house of worship takes the second spot on the list of global attractions, outranking Taj Mahal and Eiffel Tower.

Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque has been ranked the world’s second favourite landmark in a list compiled by TripAdvisor.

The Abu Dhabi landmark beat iconic wonders such as the Taj Mahal and the Eiffel Tower, being outranked only by the ancient Incan site of Machu Picchu in Peru.

The beautiful mosque is located at the entrance of Abu Dhabi and is visible from the bridges connecting the island to the mainland.

Commenting on the ranking, Yousuf Al Obaidli, Director General of the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, said, “This achievement is a source of pride for the UAE and its people, and translates the wise vision of the UAE leadership. It also reflects the great support given by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, through his wise directives that took the masque to greater heights.

“We are constantly working to project the mosque as a religious, cultural and civilisational icon and we provide its visitors with state-of-art services. The centre organises cultural tours through the year in order to project the bright image of the UAE and Islamic values of tolerance as well as the aesthetics of architecture,” Al Obaidli added.

Burj Khalifa ranked 22nd in the list of 25 of the world’s favourite landmarks. Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque has consistently featured on the list and this serves as an indication of the mosque’s serene architecture.

Over 14,000 visitors posted reviews of the mosque on TripAdvisor, posting comments such as: “Amazing. One of the new 7 wonders of the world,” and “Grand is an understatement. The architecture, the white marble and the beautifully maintained green gardens are stunning.”

This is the fourth year of TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards.

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