Dubai, UAE; May 5, 2009: Armani Hotels & Resorts, a collaboration between Emaar Properties PJSC and Giorgio Armani S.p.A, will showcase the flagship Armani Hotel Dubai at its pavilion at the prestigious Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2009 in Dubai from 5 to 8 May 2009.

Located in the iconic Burj Dubai, the world's tallest building, construction of the Armani Hotel Dubai is progressing according to plan, with completion scheduled before the end of 2009.

Bringing to life the "Stay with Armani" lifestyle, Armani Hotel Dubai will feature 160 luxuriously appointed guest rooms and suites that have been, along with the entire hotel, personally designed by Giorgio Armani, one of the foremost fashion icons in the world. The opening of the hotel will mark the official debut of Giorgio Armani in the world of hospitality.

Giorgio Armani said: "Armani Hotel Dubai is a passionate project for me. I have been fascinated by the evolution of Dubai, and Burj Dubai will be an iconic building of the city."

He added: "With the hotel, I am bringing the "Stay with Armani" promise to reality. I have been personally involved in all aspects of the hotel's design and every component has been carefully conceived to create an exquisite and intimate lifestyle experience."

Exclusively located from Concourse to Level 8, and on Levels 38 and 39 of the iconic Burj Dubai, the hotel will have a dedicated "Grand Entrance", and will introduce several firsts to the region, including the highly sought-after Armani/Spa, which will be the world's first ever in-hotel Armani/Spa. It will feature the Middle East's first Armani/Privé - the hip and upmarket nightclub - and also house an Armani/Fiori floral shop, an Armani/Dolci shop and an Armani/Galleria.

"Armani Hotel Dubai will be an icon for the global hospitality industry - both in terms of its inimitable location and the personal involvement in all aspects of design by Giorgio Armani himself," said Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties. "The opening of this world-first hospitality initiative is another testimony to Dubai's ability to implement innovative projects through international collaborations."

Alabbar added that Armani Hotel Dubai builds further on the strong tradition of hospitality in the region. "Hospitality is the driving force of tourism, and with Armani Hotel Dubai we are confident of developing a new niche in the global tourism sector."

With its unparalleled diversity of choices, the hotel will define new standards in hospitality services, and will be differentiated by Giorgio Armani's personal touch in its design and décor. The hotel will be further complemented by the Armani Residences Dubai, also located in Burj Dubai, which were launched to strong international investor response.

The hotel will be home to the finest food and beverage choices, including authentic Italian, Japanese and Mediterranean cuisine, and a modern Indian restaurant. With emphasis on the highest service standards, Armani Hotel Dubai will include 24-hour in-room dining and in-residence entertainment, and round-the-clock valet services and access to the Business Centre.

Additionally, the hotel will offer Armani/Events, a specialized events service that builds on Dubai's global standing as a conference and meetings destination. Under this initiative the Armani Hotel Dubai will offer 30,000 sq ft of conference and banqueting facilities - including the Armani/Ballroom and the Armani/Pavilion, a spacious outdoor area for up to 350 guests. The hotel will also have multi-function meeting rooms, dedicated boardrooms and flexible meeting lounges.

The Armani Hotel Dubai was the first hotel to be announced under the exclusive collaboration between Emaar Properties and Giorgio Armani S.p.A to launch a collection of hotels, resorts and residences across key cities worldwide.

Other projects announced include the Armani Residences in Dubai, also in Burj Dubai; the Armani Hotel in Milan, Italy; a resort in Marrakech, Morocco, and the Armani Residences in Marassi, Egypt, which is the first villa offering under the Armani Residences umbrella.

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Armani Hotels & Resorts was established in 2005 under an agreement between Giorgio Armani S.p.A. and Emaar Properties, with the objective to develop, own and operate an exclusive collection of hotels, resorts and residences in the world's most important cities and holiday destinations. Armani Hotels & Resorts plans to open at least ten hotels and resorts within the next ten years.

Giorgio Armani Group is one of the leading fashion and luxury goods groups in the world today with over 5,000 direct employees and 13 factories. It designs, manufactures, distributes and retails fashion and lifestyle products including apparel, accessories, eyewear, watches, jewellery, home furnishings, fragrances and cosmetics under a range of brand names: Giorgio Armani Privé, Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, Armani Collezioni, AJ | Armani Jeans, A/X Armani Exchange, Armani Junior, Armani Baby and Armani Casa. The exclusive distribution network of the Group comprises 75 Giorgio Armani boutiques, 19 Armani Collezioni shops, 166 Emporio Armani shops, 165  A/X Armani Exchange shops, 17 AJ Armani Jeans shops, 8 Armani Junior shops, 10 Giorgio Armani Accessori shops, 2 Emporio Armani Accessori shops, 30 Armani Casa shops and 14 Emporio Armani Caffe in 46 countries in the world.

Emaar Properties PJSC, listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is a global property developer with a significant presence in 36 markets worldwide. Building residential and commercial properties, the company also has proven competencies in shopping malls, hospitality & leisure, education, healthcare and finance. Emaar is developing Burj Dubai, the world's tallest building and free-standing structure, and has opened The Dubai Mall, one of the world's largest shopping and entertainment destinations. In Saudi Arabia, Emaar is developing King Abdullah Economic City, the region's largest private sector-led project, featuring a Sea Port, Central Business District, Industrial Zone, Educational Zone, Residential Communities and Resort District. The company is opening educational institutions and healthcare centres in South Asia, Middle East and North Africa and the Subcontinent. Emaar holds 30 per cent equity in Dubai Bank, focused on retail and commercial banking. Emaar is also the largest shareholder in Amlak Finance, UAE's leading Islamic home financing company. For more information, visit www.emaar.com.

© Press Release 2009