TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Over the space of an hour, she asks me to a concert, an exhibition, and to Dubai, to stay in the Armani Hotel suites in the Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world. 'You will see, it is amazing.' Roberta made a brief detour into acting, taking classes at the Actors' Studio in New York and appearing in an Italian TV adaptation of the life of Jesus as an Old Testament maiden.

There can be no doubt that the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa offers an unparalleled view of Dubai. But it comes at a price – and yesterday that price almost doubled.

Atmosphere’s sumptuously decorated interiors by renowned hotel designer Adam Tihany feature warm mahogany walls and ceilings with a high gloss finishing, Tihany furniture, hand-tufted carpet and floors of cafe au lait colored limestone. Such rich decor echoes the divine nature of this epitome of gourmet heaven.

You've heard of Dubai's record breaking Burj Khalifa, the tallest free-standing structure in the world at 828 metres tall. Well, it appears Dubai is about to shatter the record book's tallest category once again. Hard Rock Café says it is building the world's tallest guitar at 118 feet (approximately 36 metres) high to mark the café's re-opening at its new location in Dubai Festival City (DFC) this coming October.

Thanks to a minimum spend request of Dh450 per person, I knew, even before I had stepped into the sleek, high-speed lift, ready to be whooshed up to the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa, that dinner at At.mosphere Grill, the world's highest restaurant, was going to be expensive. What I'd also expected, though, was that it would impress.

It has been reported that following an elevator break down which left visitors trapped over 120 stories above the land and forced it to shut, on Sunday, the observation deck of the world’s tallest tower reopened in Dubai. It is said that there were dozens of visitors lined up to buy tickets for the 124 floor of the half-mile-high Burj Khalifa. The deck was closed in February.

For Hend Al Mutawa, the stakes are high. The Emirati designer is planning the world's highest fashion show on April 14 at At.mosphere on the 122nd level of the Burj Khalifa Tower. "I was looking for a venue for my debut solo fashion show and figured if I wanted it to be the best show, with the highest level of fashion, why not host in the highest venue in the world?

In the 23 months since it opened, the world's tallest building has been a magnet for base jumpers and free climbers. Now, an extreme balancing artist wants to perform a death-defying handstand on its summit. Eskil Ronningsbakken, a former circus performer from Norway, has asked the owners of the Burj Khalifa for permission to perform the stunt, which he hopes to be "contrary to all physical laws".

“Dubai is such an exciting place with so many amazing attractions. It is fantastic that you can now use the Metro to get to places like the Dubai Aquarium and the world’s tallest building - Burj Khalifa.”

The gorgeous views of The Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa from the outdoor terrace form the ideal backdrop to indulge in traditional French cuisine which includes gourmet savouries and pastries and some of the finest hot and cold beverages.