ArabianBusiness.com

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.

Giorgio explained the was surprised when Mohammed Alabbar asked him to do this hotel project in Dubai. “My thinking is less is more, and Dubai was being called the Las Vegas of the desert. I couldn’t understand why he wanted this hotel in Dubai.” Alabbar himself told me it took “two years” to persuade him to sign up!

As the Burj Khalifa lit up the Dubai sky with fireworks in the early hours of 2011, the world’s tallest tower was days away from another anniversary – its first birthday. From his office on the 42nd floor of Emirates Towers, Eric Tomich wouldn’t have been able to see the fireworks, because although the southern side of the twin towers commands excellent views of the Burj Khalifa, Tomich’s office faces Sheikh Zayed Road and Dubai Creek.

It was a dream-come-true for Meera, who suffers from Thalassemia but has a wishlist. Floating in like a princess, the five-year-old from Kalba had a day she, and all around her, would remember forever when she walked into Burj Khalia – the world’s tallest tower. Treated like a true princess from her favourite fairy tale, Meera could fulfill her wish thanks to Make A Wish Foundation that takes care of children like her.

She went on, of course, to design some of the most iconic hotels in the world. Other projects on the board include the Conrad Haipang Bay Resort in Sanya, China, Park Hyatt Saadiyat Island, Shangri-La Hotel Mumbai, India, Armani Hotel via Manzoni in Milan, Italy, St Regis Doha, Qatar, Four Season Cairo, Egypt, Shangri-La Bangkok, Thailand, St. Regis Zhuhai and the Four Seasons Tianjin.

The UAE Minister of Economy's keynote speech from the 4th Arabian Business Forum is shown in full below. HE Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori is the UAE's minister of economy. He was speaking at the 4th Arabian Business Forum, held at the Armani Hotel Dubai on May 23, 2011

Right at the start of 2010, with much fanfare and fireworks, the world's tallest man-made structure was officially opened. The Burj Khalifa was one of the most anticipated, watched and reported on construction projects of all time and its opening is also ranked as the best moment so far, in the tenure of Hyder Consulting's regional managing director Wael Allan.

Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum said the emirate is recovering after state-controlled holding company Dubai World reached a debt restructuring settlement with creditors. Dubai’s vision is unchanged after projects such as Meydan’s racecourse and Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building developed by Emaar Properties, were completed on schedule, Sheikh Mohammed said. “All the projects that were there are going ahead,” although some may be delayed for six months to a year, he said.

Nominations for the prestigious Arabian Business Achievement Awards have opened, with the winners to be announced at a glittering ceremony on November 30th at Dubai’s Armani Hotel. This year’s awards will span 15 categories, including technology, media, retail and the sought after titles of Businessman and Businesswoman of the Year.

Emaar Properties, the developer of the world’s tallest tower in Dubai, incurred a loss of 38.5 million dirhams ($10 million) from the sale of Hamptons Group Ltd.’s operations in Europe, UK and Asia to Countrywide. The property sold is building Number 5 in the Emaar Square project near Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, and houses the local offices of HSBC Holdings Plc, The National newspaper reported today, citing people it didn’t identify.