ArabianBusiness.com

Emaar Properties, the developer of the world’s tallest tower in Dubai, incurred a loss of 38.5 million dirhams ($10 million) from the sale of Hamptons Group Ltd.’s operations in Europe, UK and Asia to Countrywide. The property sold is building Number 5 in the Emaar Square project near Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, and houses the local offices of HSBC Holdings Plc, The National newspaper reported today, citing people it didn’t identify.

Organisers said on Tuesday that an exclusive preview of the new BlackBerry Pearl 9105 smartphone device in Dubai has been cancelled. Arabian Business can reveal that the preview party, which was due to be held at Prive at the Armani Hotel on Wednesday evening, has been postponed until a later date. The decision follows an announcement on Sunday by the UAE that it will ban certain BlackBerry services in the country from October 11.

Right at the start of 2010, with much fanfare and fireworks, the world's tallest man-made structure was officially opened. The Burj Khalifa was one of the most anticipated, watched and reported on construction projects of all time and its opening is also ranked as the best moment so far, in the tenure of Hyder Consulting's regional managing director Wael Allan.

Given that he’s talking from a stylish ballroom in the first ever Armani Hotel, within the Burj Khalifa — the tallest and one of the most talked about buildings in the world — it’s hard to argue.

It added that the total hotel supply increased to around 46,000 rooms as of Q2 2010, up eight percent since the end of 2009, following the completion of projects including the Armani Hotel and the Sofitel and Movenpick hotel on Jumeirah Beach.

MBR technology is benefiting from the increasing reuse of wastewater in the region. But for MBR to supercede the conventional activated sludge process, membrane costs will have to come down, and the full potential of the technology needs to be realised.

When the Burj Khalifa opened with a dazzling fireworks display earlier this year, the tower was hailed as a marvel of modern engineering, which it certainly is. However, it is also an excellent example of sustainability at work.

In less than six months, Mohammed Alabbar has delivered two of the world's most eagerly awaited projects. How did he do it? The iconic Burj Khalifa tower opened in January, and four months later came the first ever Armani Hotel, built within the tower.

Liz O'Connor, director of residential sales and leasing at Better Homes said that she has seen some distressed sales entering the market, especially as the final payments on properties becomes due. “There are some distress sales in the market… We have seen secondary Burj Khalifa properties coming on line; for many owners the final installment is due to be paid shortly which is promoting some to sell,” said O’Connor.

The first residents have moved into the Armani Residences inside Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. Emaar Properties, the developer of the mixed-use tower, has handed over homes to buyers of the designer apartments and one of the new residents, Sarah Belhasa, has shown Arabian Business TV around her home.