Sixteen years ago, the New Seven Wonders of the World were declared after an international poll. The project, organised by a Swiss foundation, aimed to establish a fresh category of man-made marvels, because the original seven wonders had been established more than 2,000 years before – and six of them no longer existed.
While the seven new wonders – Petra, Machu Picchu, the Colosseum, Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China, Chichen Itza and Christ the Redeemer – earned even greater fame, a range of other remarkable attractions made the shortlist. These near-misses include a Japanese temple linked to supernatural beings, the Istanbul mosque that survived a “mystery cloud” and a Sydney landmark that was designed blind.
Sydney’s beloved abomination
Few cities are as strongly linked to a single visual cue as Sydney is to the spiky silhouette of its opera house. This unique piece of architecture, next to Sydney Harbour, is the most admired building in Australia and one of the world's instantly recognisable structures, which makes it hard to imagine how it was once loathed by many.
My home country of Australia is far less amenable to experimental building design than places such as the UAE, where architects have been given free rein to create some brilliantly idiosyncratic structures. Australian cities, meanwhile, brim with bland, boxy buildings bereft of inspiration. That was an even greater issue in 1957 when Danish architect Jorn Utzon conjured up the radical idea for the Sydney Opera House.
A daring blend of curves, tiers and sharp angles, the exterior of this building was unlike anything in Australia. It was this bracing appearance that helped Utzon’s idea defeat more than 200 other architectural proposals as part of a huge competition.
So complex was Utzon’s vision that the building took 14 years to construct, involved about 10,000 workers and ended up costing more than 14 times its original budget. Part of the problem was the opera house had been designed blind. Utzon had never even visited Sydney, let alone the location set aside for the building, when he drew up its blueprints.
The endless delays, together with constant budget blowouts and its bizarre appearance, made it hugely unpopular with the public. After it opened in 1973, it took at least a decade for all of those controversies to recede and for people in Sydney people to truly embrace it. Now, it’s the pride of the city and one of the world’s top bucket-list tourism attractions.
Istanbul’s controversial landmark
With its enormous roof and towering minarets, Hagia Sophia is one of Istanbul’s main attractions. Remarkable tales are embedded in the thick stone walls of this giant building, which began life 1,500 years ago as a cathedral, became a mosque, then a museum and, in between, survived a sequence of bizarre catastrophes.
Its construction in the 6th century is said to have coincided with a natural phenomenon called a “mystery cloud”. This was a volcanic ash cloud that some historians believe limited Istanbul’s sunlight for 12 months, forcing the tradesmen constructing the Hagia Sophia to often work by lamplight.
Soon after it was completed, many of those workers died in what was then the world's worst pandemic, the Plague of Justinian. That outbreak killed more than 50 per cent of the city's residents and was followed by a sequence of earthquakes that devastated the city and badly damaged the Hagia Sophia.
Yet, more than a millennium later, the Hagia Sophia still stands. In 2020, it was converted from a non-denominational museum back into a mosque.
Japan’s eerie masterpiece
Nestled in a lush valley and embellished with seemingly endless temples, shrines and pagodas, Kyoto is so peaceful that every time I visit, it lulls me into a meditative state. Yet beneath this serene facade lurk some grim myths.
Several of these eerie legends centre on the colossal Kiyomizu-dera Temple. One of the Japanese city’s most photographed sites, the 1,200-year-old Buddhist temple is made from wood and is elevated above the surrounding landscape as it is built on a high stage.
Many tourists who come to absorb its majesty probably aren’t aware of the supernatural forces that supposedly linger in its shadow. Just behind this temple’s main prayer hall is Jishu-Jinja Shrine that, for centuries, has been a site for placing curses.
Although most Japanese people who attend this shrine do so to pray for positive outcomes, others go there to wish harm or misfortune upon their enemies. The being who supposedly answers these bleak prayers is called Okage Myojin. Local folklore says this god, who is pictured on a plaque at the shrine, will grant any wish, even if it brings death or disaster.
Don’t let that put you off visiting, however. There are few places in all of Asia more tranquil than the green, sprawling grounds of Kiyomizu-dera. From its high perch on a hillside, visitors can enjoy panoramic views across Kyoto, the spiritual hub of Japan. This vista is especially sublime in April and November, when the city is decorated with cherry blossoms and autumnal bloom, respectively.
if you go
The flights
Emirates have direct flights from Dubai to Glasgow from Dh3,115. Alternatively, if you want to see a bit of Edinburgh first, then you can fly there direct with Etihad from Abu Dhabi.
The hotel
|
Located in the heart of Mackintosh's Glasgow, the Dakota Deluxe is perhaps the most refined hotel anywhere in the city. Doubles from Dh850
|
Events and tours
There are various Mackintosh specific events throughout 2018 – for more details and to see a map of his surviving designs see glasgowmackintosh.com
For walking tours focussing on the Glasgow Style, see the website of the Glasgow School of Art.
More information
For ideas on planning a trip to Scotland, visit www.visitscotland.com
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The specs: Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Price, base: Dh1 million (estimate)
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 563hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 15L / 100km
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Semi-final fixtures
Portugal v Chile, 7pm, today
Germany v Mexico, 7pm, tomorrow
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
This is an info box
- info goes here
- and here
- and here
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 420 bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: from Dh293,200
On sale: now
Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
Match info
Liverpool 3
Hoedt (10' og), Matip (21'), Salah (45 3')
Southampton 0
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
AIR
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBen%20Affleck%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMatt%20Damon%2C%20Jason%20Bateman%2C%20Ben%20Affleck%2C%20Viola%20Davis%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A