ACCOMMODATION

The hotel, located in the Burj Khalifa and covering eight floors, was developed under an agreement signed in 2005 with Dubai-based Emaar Properties PJSC. In addition, 144 Armani Residences are located on floors 9 to 16.

HotelierMiddleEast.com is at the event and will bring you pictures and footage of the opening. The launch of the luxury Armani Hotel, Dubai was postponed by six days due to the ongoing flight disruptions caused by volcanic ash from Iceland.

Giorgio explained the was surprised when Mohammed Alabbar asked him to do this hotel project in Dubai. “My thinking is less is more, and Dubai was being called the Las Vegas of the desert. I couldn’t understand why he wanted this hotel in Dubai.” Alabbar himself told me it took “two years” to persuade him to sign up!

After a few delays, designer Giorgio Armani formally opened the world’s first Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa on Tuesday and said his company would, in partnership with Dubai-based Emaar Properties, open 10 more such hotels over the next 10 years.

Housed in Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, the 160-room luxury hotel is as exclusive as its namesake’s designer duds with added amenities such as the Armani/Privé nightclub and the world’s first in-hotel Armani/Spa.

The Armani Hotel is the first from fashion designer Giorgio Armani and will include eight restaurants, an upscale lounge, a spa with thermal suites, a fitness centre and an outdoor swimming pool.

The eagerly awaited grand unveiling of Armani Hotels’ first venture is set to take place this week: a 39-floor, five-star hotel housed in the Burj Khalifa. With 160 guest rooms and suites and 144 residential apartments, it’s no small venture. The launch itself is shrouded in secrecy, but, as with any opening in this city, the press, both here and internationally, will be quick to pass judgment as soon as they get a peek inside.

Armani Hotel Dubai, the world's first hotel developed by Armani Hotels '&' Resorts, in Burj Khalifa opened on April 21, 2010. It is the first such hotel to be launched under the collaboration between Emaar Properties PJSC and Giorgio Armani SpA. An integral component of Burj Khalifa, every element of the Armani Hotel Dubai has been personally designed by fashion legend Giorgio Armani.

The team at the Armani Hotel at the Burj Khalifa must be breathing a slight sigh of relief this morning after it was announced that the grand opening (due to take place on Wednesday) has now been delayed by a week after Iceland’s volcanic ash put a scupper on their party plans when the guest of honour –Giorgio himself – was grounded in Milan and unable to fly to Dubai.

After weeks of postponement - most recently caused by Europe's volcanic ash cloud - Armani's press office has finally confirmed the opening of the fashion label's first hotel for April 27.