IT'S the city of opulence - a sweeping desert dotted with luxurious hotels.

But that's just not enough for glamorous Dubai - it's set to build a $US1 billion ($976 million) replica of the Taj Mahal.

Dubbed "Taj Arabia", the massive complex will house a 300-room five-star hotel, apartments, restaurants, shops and offices.

The developers hope it will be a destination for weddings.

"The Taj is made as a monument of love and we hope to promote this in Dubai as a major wedding destination," developer Arun Mehra said.

It will sit within the 227-square kilometre Dubailand, which the city hopes will be "the world's greatest theme park". Home to mock versions of the seven wonders of the world, it will be twice the size of all the Disneyland and Disney World resorts combined.

The Taj will be part of the Falcon City section, a large area of land designed to resemble a falcon spreading its wings. It's due for completion in 2014.

The Taj Mahal, in Agra, India, was built in the 17th century and is known as "a teardrop on the cheek of time".

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