Sonia Verma in Dubai
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There was no evidence of the global financial crisis as tycoons and celebrities streamed into Dubai last night for the world’s most expensive private party.
Having spent £1 billion, the owners of the Atlantis hotel, which they hope will become the new symbol of excess in a region already replete with towering statements of wealth, splashed out £13.5 million on its opening.
In the lobby of the Atlantis about 2,000 guests sipped Dom Pérignon. Outside, A-list celebrities from Robert De Niro to Lindsay Lohan walked the red carpet. After the pop singer Kylie Minogue performed on stage the sky lit up with the world’s largest fireworks display, seven times greater than this year’s Olympic Games opening ceremony in Beijing and extravagant enough to be seen from outer space.
The price tag for the party even embarrassed Sol Kerzner, the chairman and chief executive officer of Kerzner International, who built the resort on the man-made Palm Island in partnership with Nakheel, a state-owned developer. “If I had to do it all over again, I might do it recognising the fact that we’re living through a bit of a tough economic environment,” Mr Kerzner, a South African billionaire, told The Times.
The timing for Mr Kerzner’s imposing hotel is not ideal. The emirate is groaning under heavy debt and banks have tightened lending, delaying new developments. Gulf stock markets have sunk to historic lows and analysts are radically scaling back economic forecasts for the region.
Since it opened its doors to paying guests six weeks ago, the hotel has been nearly 80 per cent full, Mr Kerzner said. Nightly rates range in price from $800 (£550) for a basic suite to $35,000 per night for the hotel’s signature suite, which features floor to ceiling views of Dubai. The 1,539-room hotel has two towers set in 130-acre grounds that feature an aquarium with 65,000 sea creatures.
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$35,000: cost of one night in the Bridge Suite
58,000 km of steel bars were used in the hotel’s construction, more than nine times the length of the Great Wall of China
46 hectares: the size of the Atlantis resort, equal to 64 Wembley pitches
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I just see Dubai as gluttoney and greed a place for rich to be themselves, Self indulgence at its highest at the expense of others. Taking wildlife without considering the environmental issues/ impact on the species, (the five freedoms).
I dont wish dubai peace and harmony, but what it projects.
Jayne Lambert, Devon, England
I would loved to have been there, but I do agree with the last few comment that Dubai is taking it's excesses to far it may be an Islamic state but they definately don't act like it is
mzb, london, uk
Dubai is a disgusting place.I went there and I am a British citizen.It was my first time. They disrepected my husband who is a Tunisian national but a UK resident and called him Algerian trying to come in. I shouted at them.Anyway they cancelled my visa in despite. Dubai worships millionaires.
Sadia uk, manchester, uk
Vulgar, ostentatious and totally over the top. Yes Dubai has no soul, no regard for basic human comforts . Perhaps one should take a closer look at those poor lababorer who built this mamoth complex that feeds ones vanity. Dubai's obsession with 'best in the world' is seeing ludicrous heights.
sandra, dubai,
Sorry! This is a sin in all religions, esp. Islam. I am worried about God's lesson that will come sooner or later to correct the minds of such fools.
Fouad Attia, Cornelius, United States
Why are people hating so much?
If something spectacular like this would have happened in New York, everyone would be up in arms about the so-called "American Dream".
Assiri, London, UK
Well what perfect timing to open such a resort. As the Arab world creaks under massive debt and loss making Oil revenues we will see how long this lasts. Dubai is such a souless place I never unerstood how or why it is a luxury destination. As they say 'you can't buy class' or profits!!
Billy, Bangkok, Thailand
The fact that Kylie Minogue was paid £1.3m for an hours performance is also ridiculous! How can that be justified?
margot, fife,
a sand castle made next to sea, guess what next,
yes u guessed it right.what an obscene amount spent on fire works,when millions of children are sleeping with no food in their tummies.
oil,global warming,????
pervaiz, london, uk
I think this resort is a disgrace. Another example of man wanting to dominate nature. Did anyone think about how those fireworks affected their dolphins, and other marine creatures that are forced to be there? Most of the dolphins they have were blinded during transport because of their own urine
Shelby Proie, surfside, USA
I bet the doplins are dead from the shock of the noice from the fireworks - If they are - its no problem they will just buy or catch some more! When the world is suffereing - all they want to do is show off a man made island and an expensive hotel. Something is really wrong - but hey ,it looked cool
Elaine, Dubai, UAE
Disgusting! The praised aquarium at Atlantis is a gross example for animal cruelty out of sheer greed. A petition signed by 15.000 concerned people has not even been acknowledged by the management.
Apart from this, the hotel itself falls far behing the huge expectations, quality is 4 star at best.
Eva, Dubai,
great nightlife too i hear
watkins, bangkok, thailand
How crass and vulgar. Appalling architecture, unsustainable from every aspect, hideous, tacky placemaking, yukky materialism-obsessed celebrity, and £20m of tiresome, cliched fireworks.
The place is sinking already. So at least with Atlantis they got the name right.
Laura Roberts, London, UK
Spending £1.3m on 1 hours performance is crazy when so close by people are starving. Morally wrong.
Natasha, London, UK
No mention either that property prices in Dubai have fallen 40% in the last few months.A massive crash is weeks away.Then the sea will wash away the man made sand islands and it will return to how it was.The luxury lifestyle is just an illusion.
Steveo, Leicester, eNGLAND
This is obscene and a true indication of how the world is today. Nature will have its day.
Max, Birmingham, UK
Wow! Amazing place, amzing facilities, amazing country and guaranteed amazing times! I'm saving up already!
George, Edinburgh,
...and this was the place that made a moral fuss about two people having sex on a beach...the immorral amounts of money spent on this is in a world in which people often die through hunger is simply disgusting and should highlight what utter nonsense some countires religous morals are.
Dr Smith, London, UK
We all know what happened to Atlantis...
Peter V., Brussels,
It's very sad to know this.. to many people in the world needing a plate of food...
I just don't understand...
Reis, Florianopolis, Brasil
Dubai's bubble is about to burst.
This is akin to the Orchestra playing while the Titanic sank.
Kevin, Salisbury, UK
It looks like a rather naff bank headquarters! What a waste of human effort.
Paul Freeman, London, England
No mention of Atlantis laying off 1,500 workers in Nassau, Bahamas then...
Yvonne, Nassau,
there is no compertition for dubai n e more its on another level
adam m, bolton, uk