Conde Nast Traveller magazine recently revealed its top 20 cities in the world for architecture lovers ... and two Arab countries made it to the list.
Titled "The World's 20 Best Cities for Architecture Lovers," the list ranked Dubai at No. 16 followed by Marrakech, Morocco at No. 17.
St. Petersburg in Russia ranked No.1 on the list followed by Brasília, Brazil at No.2.
Istanbul, Turkey also made it to the list, ranking at No. 14.
Dubai's development "has lured top contemporary artists like Zaha Hadid and Rem Koolhaas"
"Over the course of ten years, Dubai's landscape has transformed. Home to the world's tallest building, a seven-star hotel (the Burj al Arab), and the only man-made archipelago modeled after the seven continents, Dubai's development has lured top contemporary architects like Zaha Hadid and Rem Koolhaas to feed into its outdoor design frenzy," the magazine writes.
And in case you need a bit more proof, here's a glimpse:
Do you see it yet?
Look at all those *tiny* skyscrapers
As for Marrakech ... well it's an "exceptional place to view the Moorish architecture of the 12th through 17th centuries"
"The presence of riads, palaces with interior courtyards and gardens and open skylights, are specific to Morocco and essential to Islamic design because of their emphasis on privacy. The lack of street-level windows and the use of clay walls also lends to the feeling of intimacy and grace. The density of Marrakech's riads—combined with the city's mosques, minarets, and mosaics—makes it an exceptional place to view the Moorish architecture of the 12th through 17th centuries," the magazine writes.