A party with 600 guests, an Armani Spring/Summer 2010 Privé collection show and a ribbon cutting ceremony by the Italian king of fashion Giorgio Armani, and Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties PJSC, marked the opening of the first Armani Hotel in Dubai. Located in the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, an 828-metres tall flower-shaped skyscraper designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the hotel is conceived as a 360-degree experience into the Armani lifestyle, and features 160 luxurious rooms, including suites and studio rooms, all embodying Armani’s classic and sophisticated aesthetic.

The Italian fashion designer dedicated almost five years to the project, carefully selecting the materials employed, from the Eramosa stone floors to the fabric that cover the walls and the scents of the bath and spa accessories. Based on minimalist architectures, the rooms are spacious and well furnished in muted and neutral colours, with some of the streamlined silhouettes employed in spaces such as the business centre echoing the modern and sleek look of Art Deco style. Guests staying at the hotel will be to experience Italian-style warmth and hospitality since a lifestyle manager and a multicultural lifestyle team will be assigned to them and be ready to offer advice and suggestions. The eight innovative restaurants included in the hotel, all with spectacular views over the city, offer light meals, Italian-style aperitivi and delicacies from the Indian, Japanese, Italian and Mediterranean cuisines.

Leisure and entertainment options at the hotel include a 12,000 square feet spa, providing individually personalised treatments and thermal bathing, the first Armani Privé nightclub in the Middle East and three in-house retail outlets, Galleria, Dolci and Fiori, offering haute-couture fashion accessories from the Privé collection, a selection of luxurious confectionary products, and fresh flower arrangements in exclusively designed vases by Giorgio Armani. The hotel is complemented by the 144 flats of the Armani Residences, located from the ninth to the 16th floor of the Burj Khalifa. The Armani Hotel Dubai is the first project launched by the joint venture created by Giorgio Armani S.p.A. and Emaar Properties PJSC. Further hotels, resorts and residences will be unveiled in the next few years in key international destinations. The second Armani Hotel will launch in Milan next year, while new developments – from residences to resorts and hotels – are planned in Marrakech, Marassi, New York, Tokyo, Shanghai and London.