The Definitive Guide: The Most Famous Landmark in Every Arab Country
Sadad Talhouni
Whether manmade or natural, landmarks are the ambassadors of a country. One quick look at a landmark should easily help you identify the country it’s from. So what are the most famous landmarks of every Arab country? Put your memory caps on and check the slideshow above to view our compiled list on this week’s Definitive Guide.
Iraq: The Swords of Qadisiyah are perhaps Baghdad’s most recognizable monuments, unveiled in 1989. The triumphal arches are located at the entrance of the Great Celebration Squares and the parade ground commemorating the Iran-Iraq war.Egypt: As one of the Seven Wonders of the World still in existence, the Giza Necropolis doesn’t need any introduction. It simply must be visited.United Arab Emirates: Burj Khalifah, the world’s tallest building, beat out Burj Al Arab as Dubai’s definitive landmark.Qatar: The Aspire Tower was already mentioned in last week’s Definitive Guide as the tallest building in Qatar. It contains a sports museum, hotel and revolving restaurant.Oman: The main mosque in Oman is the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, it took more than 6 years to build and was completed in 2001. The entire floor of Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is covered by a single piece carpet, the second largest in the world.Yemen: The Old City of Sanaa in its entirety defines Yemen. The capital city made entirely of clay dates back to sixth century B.C. and is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Djibouti: Assal/Honey Lake is basically Djibouti’s own Dead Sea! It is the third lowest point on Earth, and is the world’s largest salt reserve.Libya: The next time you see prehistoric cave paintings, think of Libya. More specifically, think of Tadrat Acacus, the mountain range in the western Libya, which is filled with a huge variety of rock art.Algeria: Martyr’s Memorial (Makam Echahid), built in 1982 commemorates the Algerian war of independenceComoros: While the islands of the Union of Comoros themselves are landmarks of natural beauty themselves, perhaps the most iconic individual landmark is in the capital Moroni; the Badjanani Mosque.Sudan: The Pyramids of Meroe, also known as Begarawiyah, are sort of the mini versions of Egyptian pyramids. In fact, the rulers of the Kushite Kingdom who built these pyramid were both inspired by and competed against the ancient Egyptians.Mauritania: Eye of the Sahara, also know as the Richat Structure, is one landmark you can’t really see from the naked eye. The deeply eroded circular feature is 40 km in diameter, and can be viewed from space. It is located in west central Mauritania.Syria: Located in the old city of Damascus, the Umayyad Mosque is one of Syria’s most important landmarks, and was built on the site of a Christian Basilica dedicated to John the Baptist.Palestine: The Dome of the Rock is not just Jerusalem’s most recognizable landmark; it’s also one of the oldest works of Islamic architecture. Just a mere glimpse of the golden dome brings Palestine to mind.Somalia: Laas Geel is a complex of caves that contains one of the earliest known cave paintings in the Horn of Africa, dating back to between 9,000 and 3,000 B.C.Kuwait: The Kuwait Towers, three slender spikes in Kuwait City, are the modern symbol of the country, and were constructed in 1977.Saudi Arabia: As the most scared location in Islam, the Kaaba is naturally Saudi Arabia’s most famous landmark.Tunis: The Cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul is a Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to the patron saint of charity. It is located in the capital Tunisia.Lebanon: The beautiful Jeita Grotto is Lebanon’s natural symbol. The grotto is 9 km limestone cave system situated in Nahr al-Kalb valley, with many fascinating crystallized formations, including stalagmites, stalactites and columns. Pictures truly don’t do it justice.Bahrain: After the dismantling of the Pearl Roundabout, the Bahrain World Trade Center became Manama’s most recognizable landmark. It is the first skyscraper in the world to integrate wind turbine into its design.Jordan: The Rose City Petra is another famous landmark that needs no introduction. Carved entirely out of stone, the city is Jordan’s most visited attraction and is the site of many famous Hollywood movies.The Definitive Guide: The Most Famous Landmark in Every Arab CountryMorocco: Koutoubia Mosque is the largest mosque in Marrakesh. It is 77 meters tall and was completed in 1199.
