The National

The Indian music maestro, AR Rahman, says music is therapeutic, and has promised his fans a celebration of songs at a concert scheduled for next month. The famous music composer was at the Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa yesterday to promote the event, which will take place on December 9 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai Sports City.

The scene this week at the Burj Khalifa reflected the surge in the number of tourists coming into Dubai this year, with visitors coming from a far more diverse range of locations compared with a couple of years ago, when the emirate was largely attracting wealthy travellers from Europe.

Armani is focusing on its plans to open resorts in Egypt and Morocco before expanding its joint venture with Emaar further. Upheaval has forced developers to reassess plans throughout the region, while many projects have been shelved until there are signs of stability.

Filming of the movie hit the international headlines last year when Cruise, 49, was photographed dangling from the outside of the Burj Khalifa in one scene. Other parts of the film are set at Dubai International Financial Centre and on the Palm Jumeirah. Further shoots took place in Prague, Moscow, Mumbai and Vancouver.

According to some of the world's most respected news sources, it is the crowning glory of the world's tallest building: a mosque on the 158th floor of the Burj Khalifa, and the highest on Earth. The BBC reported it in a story on the opening of the Burj on January 4 last year: "The world's highest mosque and swimming pool will meanwhile be located on the 158th and 76th floors."

After all, Fashion TV will be up against the likes of the new Burj Khalifa Armani hotel, not to mention plans afoot for hotels in Dubai from Elie Saab and Karl Lagerfeld, the latter on Isla Moda, with uniforms designed by Victoria Beckham.

First released online by www.msn.co.uk and later by television's Entertainment Tonight, the outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage from Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol reveal what was involved in the three and a half weeks of filming in Dubai last October.

Emaar plans to swap penthouses for affordable housing as the developer of the Burj Khalifa looks to capitalise on the need for 3.5 million affordable homes in the Middle East. Known for its luxury master-planned developments, Emaar has launched a division to focus on building low-cost homes in the region.

A man contacted Dubai Police headquarters and threatened to blow up the Burj Khalifa unless US$1 million (Dh3.7m) was paid to him, a court heard this morning. The 38-year-old Indian businessman JF sent a text to a Dubai Police major on February 5 saying, "tomoro burj kaleefa blast arange no arrange 1oooooo dollar take", prosecution records show.

Elizabeth Taylor's love affair with jewellery actually began when she was just a child, around the same time she made her 1942 screen debut in There's One Born Every Minute. Following the actress's death some 69 years later, 269 precious pieces from her celebrated lifelong collection were entrusted to Christie's for auction in New York.