If you live in the UAE, you will know just how spectacular Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is, and it is not only locals that are captivated by its splendour.
International travellers continue to recognise it as one of the most significant landmarks in the world, with the mosque this week claiming third place among the top 10 landmarks in the world, according to TripAdvisor.
Click though the gallery above to see why.
TripAdvisor’s Travellers Choice Awards list considered more than 750 landmarks, in 68 countries and eight regions globally.
Of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, TripAdvisor writes: "Grand is an understatement. The architecture, the white marble and the beautifully maintained green gardens are stunning."
The travel guide site described the mosque as "by far the youngest world landmark", adding that it "holds its own against more established icons".
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in the UAE, and was opened in 2007.
It was only beaten in the TripAdvisor rankings by Cambodia’s Angor Wat in Siem Reap and Spain’s Plaza de Espana in Seville, which took first and second place, respectively.
The annual Travellers Choice Awards also rank the best experiences, beaches, museums, attractions, hotels, destinations, airlines, restaurants and holiday rentals in the world. According to Wam, award winners are determined using an algorithm that takes into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings from TripAdvisor travellers, gathered over 12 months.
The top 10 landmarks in TripAdvisor’s Travellers Choice Awards:
Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Plaza de Espana, Seville, Spain
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Italy
Mezquita Cathedral de Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Duomo di Milano, Milan, Italy
Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, California
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest, Hungary
Across other categories, Dubai is rated the 10th best city on the destinations list, and the city's Barbecue with Dunes & Camel Safari at Al Khayma Camp is rated number 21 in the experiences list. Emirates is ranked at number four on the best airlines list.
