ACCOMMODATION

Living in the world’s tallest tower is now just a thousand dirhams away, if advertisements on Dubai-based websites are to be believed. The owner of a one-bed apartment in Burj Khalifa is leasing his flat for Dh999 per day. That is close to 40 per cent cheaper than the average daily rate of a deluxe room in the Armani Hotel, also in the Burj Khalifa.

Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower and perhaps the poshest address in the Gulf, is fast acquiring a distinct Indian identity. Indians now own more than a hundred of 900 apartments in Dubai's 828-metre skyscraper, a sign of the growing financial power of the community in the West Asia. "Indians have bought between 100 and 150 apartments since its completion in 2010," an executive of project developer Emaar Properties said on condition of anonymity.

The Address Hotels + Resorts, the five-star premium hotel brand of Emaar Hospitality Group, has announced the launch of special Iftar and Suhour buffets for the month of Ramadan. The Address Downtown Dubai, The Address Dubai Mall, Dubai Marina and The Palace – The Old Town; are offering an unprecedented experience that suits the spirit of the Holy Month, a statement from a hotel official said.

Emaar Hospitality Group, the hospitality and leisure subsidiary of global property developer Emaar Properties, has acquired the management of Al Manzil and Qamardeen hotels, two key hospitality assets of Emaar, located in Downtown Dubai. The two hotels were earlier managed by Southern Sun Hotel Group.

The 117th corporate office floor in Burj Khalifa has been put up for auction by a US-based online auction website, with bids starting at Dh19.9 million. Freedom Realty Exchange, owned and managed by LFC Internet Marketing, a member of the LFC Group in California, said the online auction was being launched by the current owner, believed to be Emaar, and would be accepting bids until June 28.

Those searching for a more intimate dining experience can head to the Armani hotel, where it’s possible to book a table in the kitchen and watch the chef rustle up a fare dreamt up by the billionaire designer Giorgio Armani himself. The hotel is the 77-year-old’s second venture into the luxury lifestyle business - his first opened in Dubai in 2010 - and he regularly checks in on an experience which can cost guests up to 11,000 euros ($14,800) a night.

Before you scream Burj Khalifa’s 828m or the Makkah Clock Royal Tower’s height of 601m, we were duly informed that neither of the structures are dedicated hotel towers; while the former is indeed the tallest building in the world, it only houses the Armani Hotel and Residences from the concourse level to level eight and levels 38 and 39.

How the Burj Khalifa, among the world’s most luxurious properties, can be considered distressed helps to illustrate the extent of the downturn in Dubai’s real estate market in recent years. Two years ago, the tower held a glitzy, fireworks-themed grand opening that attracted worldwide news coverage. But by October 2010 apartment prices at the Burj Khalifa had dropped 40 percent and they have yet to recover.

Only minutes away the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination, The Dubai Mall, and the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, stands the famous, extravagant hotel, The Address Downtown. The hotel is within easy access of the most renowned landmarks and leisure hotspots in the city.

Armani Ristorante draws on the rich gastronomic traditions of authentic Italian cuisine. The menu offers a mix of traditional and modern dishes that takes the diner in an adventure of exploring new horizons. The food is served in an attractive, elegant and mouthwatering fashion.