ArabianBusiness.com

Only a quarter of people who took part in the latest Arabian Business survey said they though the AED100 ticket price to go up the Burj Khalifa was reasonable.

The first residents have moved into the Armani Residences inside Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. Emaar Properties, the developer of the mixed-use tower, has handed over homes to buyers of the designer apartments and one of the new residents, Sarah Belhasa, has shown Arabian Business TV around her home.

Fino International said on Sunday it was nearing the end of its 33 month project to fit out the Burj Khalifa’s corporate offices, public lobby and Armani Hotel & Residences.

Dubai-based internet startup, Yadig.com, which provides real-time feedback on restaurants and entertainment, has revealed the UAE’s top five most popular restaurants and entertainment outlets, as picked by its uses. The site sourced more than 1,500 local user reviews to rank the best eateries, night clubs, bars and coffee shops in the Gulf state.

British engineering firm Hyder Consulting said on Tuesday that it was on track to beat profit forecasts in its full-year results, despite still being owed GBP9.4m ($14.9m) by Dubai clients.The company, which advised on Dubai’s Burj Khalifa project, said it was poised to report full year revenue and operating profit “slightly ahead” of market expectations, after absorbing operating costs of around GBP3m.

A new gallery that will showcase the best in Arab contemporary talent is planning to open its doors in Downtown Dubai during April. The 3,000 square foot Ara Gallery, located near the base of the Burj Khalifa, has also earmarked community engagement as a key pillar of its strategy.

Iconic fashion designer Giorgio Armani has said he is nervous his first hotel project, which will be located in the base of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, may look outdated when officially opened later this month. “I’ve been working on this for five years. I’m finally going to see what I designed, and it’s a bit nerve-racking to think that what I liked five years ago might look old now,” the Italian designer told US-based fashion trade publication Woman’s Wear Daily at the weekend.

Last month's gala launch of the Burj Khalifa in Downtown Dubai was a fitting tribute to the skill and professionalism of the assembled event production specialists, lead by Dubai-based outfit Prisme International and French fireworks contractor Groupe F. While it's hard not to imagine the scale of the launch event had the 828 metre tower opened at the height of Dubai's boom years (think Atlantis times 10), the fireworks presentation itself differed little to initial designs drawn up by Groupe F's artistic director and CEO Christophe Berthonneau more than two years ago.

Given that he’s talking from a stylish ballroom in the first ever Armani Hotel, within the Burj Khalifa — the tallest and one of the most talked about buildings in the world — it’s hard to argue.

It added that the total hotel supply increased to around 46,000 rooms as of Q2 2010, up eight percent since the end of 2009, following the completion of projects including the Armani Hotel and the Sofitel and Movenpick hotel on Jumeirah Beach.