ABU DHABI // Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has once again been ranked by travellers as the world’s second favourite landmark, according to TripAdvisor.
Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia, took the top spot in the Top 25 Landmarks — World category.
“Achieving second place, two years in a row, as one of most significant architectural monuments in the world, culminates the tremendous efforts and exceptional services the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque offers to visitors from all walks of life,” said Ahmed Al Za’abi, deputy minister for presidential affairs and chairman of the board of trustees of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
TripAdvisor, the travel planning and booking website, announced the winners of its Travelers’ Choice awards for Landmarks honouring 706 landmarks in 82 countries last week. Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for landmarks worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period.
The Grand Mosque surpassed such world-renowned landmarks as St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City (4th), the Taj Mahal in India (5th), Peru’s Machu Picchu (8th), the Eiffel Tower (13th) and the Sydney Opera House (25th). Dubai’s Burj Khalifa was also named among the Top 25 landmarks in the world, ranking No 22. With more than 20,660 reviews, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque also takes first place in TripAdvisor’s Things to Do in Abu Dhabi category. In reviews posted online, visitors described the mosque as “stunning – a modern wonder,” “peaceful,” and “beautiful.”
Last year, the mosque’s total visitors reached 5,209,801, of which 1,448,394 were worshipers, 2,807,556 visitors, and 872,070 Ramadan Iftar guests. Lectures and the Holy Quran memorisation programmes attracted 9,781 participants. The mosque also distributed about 72,000 meals to the underprivileged.
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Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
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What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
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Dust storm
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RACE CARD
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
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