NEWS

FROM the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum should be master of all he surveys. But there are a few problems for the ruler of Dubai: the murk of dust and exhaust that lays heavy on the desert metropolis makes it very hard to see to the bottom, while the lifts of the newly opened building are not working, making it impossible to get to the top.

The much-anticipated opening of the Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, has been delayed by more than a month, UAE daily the National reported on Monday, citing a source familiar with the matter. The opening ceremony of the Italian designer's first hotel will now take place on April 22, instead of March 18, due to unfinished work, the newspaper said, adding that it will open to the public two days later.

Giorgio Armani’s first hotel, due to open in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa today, will be delayed by more than a month, said two people with knowledge of the plan. The luxury hotel, occupying 10 floors of the world’s tallest building, is now scheduled to open on April 22, said the people, who declined to be identified because there hasn’t been an official announcement.

The number of completed buildings in Dubai during 2009 topped the 2,500-mark, according to Dubai Municipality data released by the Dubai Statistics Centre (DSC). These numbers are set to grow this year, with Burj Khalifa delivered in January 2010. The value of these completed buildings, according to DSC statistics, was Dh24.89 billion.

At 2717 feet it towers above the competition—it's more than two and a half times the size of the Chrysler tower, and while the previous top five highest buildings were all within a couple of hundred feet of each other, the 160-story Burj Khalifa beats the old world-record-holder, the Taipei 101, by some 900 feet. For size-conscious architects, the gauntlet hasn't been thrown. It has been launched into space and threatens to blot out the sun.

Armani Hotel Dubai has started taking bookings ahead of its official opening on March 18. Room categories available at the 160-room property include 24 Armani Studios, 44 Armani Classic rooms, 38 Armani Premiere rooms, 36 Armani Suites, six Armani Executive and six Armani Ambassador Suites, and five Armani Signature Suites. The hotel will also feature eight restaurants, the region’s first and only Armani/Privé club, the world’s first in-hotel Armani/SPA, plus Armani/Dolci a chocolate and sweets store, the Armani/Fiori flower shop and accessories outlet Armani/Galleria.

Come April, the first tenants may finally be able to move into Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, now the tallest building in the world. Despite a series of setbacks since its ostensible opening two months ago, including the closing of the observation deck, the tower has already prompted an exuberant proliferation of record-breaking statistics: it soars more than half a mile high, stands twice the height of the Empire State Building, boasts views that reach 60 miles, etc

The Burj Khalifa remains closed to the public, after ‘maintenance’ issues forced its closure on February 7. This is bad news for the countless Dubai residents and tourists who bought tickets, and who now face the annoyance of obtaining a refund, or rebooking at a later date.

Many press people from around the world wanted to know our opinions and insights on all sorts of questions, such as what the launch of Burj Khalifa symbolises in terms of advancements, what the main factors are that differentiate Burj Khalifa from other tall buildings, what does the launch of Burj Khalifa mean for Dubai, and what is the most impressive aspect of the building?

The much-anticipated Armani Hotel Dubai will miss its scheduled opening date for a second time, Arabian Business has learned. The luxury hotel, housed in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, was scheduled to open on March 18 but the launch ceremony has now been pushed back to April 22, a source confirmed.