Press

More than two years after a US$10 billion bailout from oil-rich neighbor Abu Dhabi pulled Dubai out of recession, the Dubai hotel market seems to be booming.

EMKE group founder Yusuffali M. A. won the coveted “lifetime achievement Award” at the inaugural Indian CEO Awards held at Dubai’s Armani Hotel. The retail giant was one of 16 leaders honored in the first-ever event to recognize the achievements on Indian business leaders.

Located in the Dubai Mall, one of the world’s largest shopping malls, the impressive 110 square meter salon features Harry Winston’s most iconic jewelry and timepiece collections. “Harry Winston salons find their home in the world’s finest shopping destinations, and we are thrilled to open a second new location in Dubai,” said Frederic de Narp, President & CEO of Harry Winston, Inc.

The company’s annual revenue for 2011 reached AED 8.112 billion (US$ 2.209 billion). With The Dubai Mall, the flagship development of Emaar establishing itself as the world’s most visited shopping and tourism destination marking record visitor arrivals of 54 million in 2011, the shopping malls & retail business of Emaar contributed AED 2.14 billion (US$ 583 million) to annual revenues, representing 26 per cent of the total.

Dubai paid its own unique tribute to Whitney Houston with a stunning fountain display set to one of her most famous songs. The Dubai Fountain danced to the haunting echoes of the hit I Will Always Love You in a specially choreographed display marking the singer’s death. The water and light show took place outside the Dubai Mall on the 30-acre manmade Burj Khalifa lake.

The Mission: Impossible films rely on exotic destinations, perhaps none more so than Ghost Protocol, which shifts from Budapest to Moscow to Dubai to Mumbai to, um, Seattle. The third leg of that journey is basically just an excuse to shoot at the Burj Khalifa, the 2,716-foot skyscraper that currently reigns as the world’s tallest building.

This Valentine’s Day, Armani/Amal is offering a special six-course degustation menu featuring Goan Spiced Grilled Lobster Tail, along with Poached Mussel, Caviar andGold Leaf; Created in Armani/Amal’s Tandoor are Pickle Spiced Duck Tikka, with Apricot Sauce, and Straw Potatoes; while dessert comprises the sumptuous Date and Honey Slice with dreamy Cinnamon Ice Cream.

“There was no fire and no other accident at the Burj….heavy fog in the city gave the impression to many people that there was fire,” Colonel Ali Ghanem, head of Bur Dubai police station, said, quoted by Emirat Alyoum newspaper. Twitteratis, however, continue to tweet despite police denial of any fire at the world’s tallest tower in Dubai.

Commenting on the completion of the dome and mast structure, Federico Tauber, President of TAMEER said, "In a city of skyscrapers it is still an extremely satisfying feeling to have completed yet another record-breaking project. Princess Tower is now the tallest residential building in the entire world and its excellent location, distinctive presence and iconic status as a residential super-high rise makes it a very prestigious and sought-after address to live in."

Before you scream Burj Khalifa’s 828m or the Makkah Clock Royal Tower’s height of 601m, we were duly informed that neither of the structures are dedicated hotel towers; while the former is indeed the tallest building in the world, it only houses the Armani Hotel and Residences from the concourse level to level eight and levels 38 and 39.