• 10. Dubai International Airport.
    10. Dubai International Airport.
  • 9. The Dubai Fountain.
    9. The Dubai Fountain.
  • 8. The Sphinx of Giza, Egypt.
    8. The Sphinx of Giza, Egypt.
  • 7. Dubai's Burj Al Arab.
    7. Dubai's Burj Al Arab.
  • 6. Al Masjid an-Nabawi, Saudi Arabia.
    6. Al Masjid an-Nabawi, Saudi Arabia.
  • 5. The Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt.
    5. The Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt.
  • 4. Masjid al-Haram, Saudi Arabia.
    4. Masjid al-Haram, Saudi Arabia.
  • 3. Giza Necropolis, Egypt.
    3. Giza Necropolis, Egypt.
  • 2. Kaaba, Saudi Arabia.
    2. Kaaba, Saudi Arabia.
  • 1. Burj Khalifa is Google Street View's most-visited landmark. All photos: Google
    1. Burj Khalifa is Google Street View's most-visited landmark. All photos: Google

10 most-visited Mena sites on Google Street View, from Burj Khalifa to Pyramids of Giza


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

Burj Khalifa ranked No 1 in the recent list of 10 most-viewed tourist landmarks globally on Google Maps Street View, and again in the Middle East and North Africa ranking released on Thursday. .

The world’s tallest building in Dubai has been viewed more times than any other location using the US tech company's detailed street-level imagery.

Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the most-visited place on Google Street View. Photo: Google
Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the most-visited place on Google Street View. Photo: Google

Viewers can use the tool to step through the doors of Burj Khalifa, virtually stand in line for the lift to the top of the tower or get a glimpse inside the rooms of Armani Hotel, which is located inside the world's biggest skyscraper.

Saudi Arabia’s Kaaba, the sacred cube-shaped building at the centre of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, is the second-most viewed location on Google Street View in the region, closely followed by the ancient sites of the Giza Necropolis in Egypt.

The 10 most-viewed Mena landmarks on Google Street View

Burj Khalifa as see on Google Maps' Street View. Photo: Google
Burj Khalifa as see on Google Maps' Street View. Photo: Google
  1. Burj Khalifa — UAE
  2. Kaaba — Saudi Arabia
  3. Giza Necropolis — Egypt
  4. Masjid al-Haram — Saudi Arabia
  5. The Great Pyramid of Giza — Egypt
  6. Al Masjid an-Nabawi — Saudi Arabia
  7. Burj Al Arab — UAE
  8. The Sphinx of Giza — Egypt
  9. The Dubai Fountain — UAE
  10. Dubai International Airport — UAE

The Dubai Fountain, Burj Al Arab and Dubai International Airport also rank in the list. . Saudi Arabia's holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah, the Great Sphinx of Giza and Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza round out the top 10.

Vistas from the top of Dubai's Burj Al Arab on Google Street View. Photo: Google
Vistas from the top of Dubai's Burj Al Arab on Google Street View. Photo: Google

Google uses street view imagery to capture 360º images of places around the world to help people virtually explore.

It was launched in the UAE in 2013 and has expanded over the last decade to include streets and landmarks in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Tunisia.

Most of the images for Google Street View are collected via cars, but in 2014 in Abu Dhabi, the task was given to an animal — a 10-year-old camel named Raffia who walked through the desert around Liwa Oasis with a Street View camera on her back.

A Google Street View car maps out Dubai in December 2014. Photo: Google
A Google Street View car maps out Dubai in December 2014. Photo: Google

The Pyramids of Meroe, in the ancient capital of the Kushite Kingdom in Sudan's Nile Valley, is one of Google's most recent Street View projects.

Globally, over the past 15 years, Street View cars have travelled more than 16 million kilometres and collected more than 220 billion images from around the world.

On Google Maps Street View, viewers also have the option to look into historical images for some locations to see how they’ve changed over time.

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'Munich: The Edge of War'

Director: Christian Schwochow

Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons

Rating: 3/5

The biog

Favourite colour: Brown

Favourite Movie: Resident Evil

Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices

Favourite food: Pizza

Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes

Cheat’s nigiri 
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.

Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.

Deconstructed sushi salad platter 
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.

It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

Defending champions

World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack

ESSENTIALS

The flights 
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes. 
Where to stay 
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.

25-MAN SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina, Abdullahi Shehu, Chidozie Awaziem, William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo, Jamilu Collins, Semi Ajayi 
Midfielders: John Obi Mikel, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, John Ogu
Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Henry Onyekuru, Odion Ighalo, Alexander Iwobi, Samuel Kalu, Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze 

On Standby: Theophilus Afelokhai, Bryan Idowu, Ikouwem Utin, Mikel Agu, Junior Ajayi, Valentine Ozornwafor

England XI for second Test

Rory Burns, Keaton Jennings, Ben Stokes, Joe Root (c), Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Ben Foakes (wk), Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Jack Leach, James Anderson

RACE SCHEDULE

All times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Friday, September 29
First practice: 7am - 8.30am
Second practice: 11am - 12.30pm

Saturday, September 30
Qualifying: 1pm - 2pm

Sunday, October 1
Race: 11am - 1pm

RESULTS

2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: AF Senad, Nathan Crosse (jockey), Kareem Ramadan (trainer)

2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Ashjaan, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.

3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Amirah, Conner Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Jap Al Yaasoob, Szczepan Mazur, Irfan Ellahi.

4pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Jawaal, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri.

4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Manhunter, Ryan Curatolo, Mujeeb Rahman.

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

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How green is the expo nursery?

Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery

An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo

Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery

Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape

The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides

All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality

Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country

Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow

Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site

Green waste is recycled as compost

Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs

Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers

About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer

Main themes of expo is  ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.

Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months

TICKETS

Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.

Updated: June 09, 2022, 10:21 AM