Champagne flowed, fireworks burst in the nightsky and celebrities were among the 2,000 guests who had descended on Dubai's Palm island to celebrate the launch of Atlantis Palm Jumeirah on Thursday.
Its developers threw a lavish US$20 million ($31m) which saw a star-studded guestlist of names such as Hollywood thespians Robert DeNiro and Charlize Theron, reported AP.
Other celebrities spotted include Michael Jordan, Lindsay Lohan, Wesley Snipes, Mary Kate Olsen, Shirley Bassey, Janet Jackson, Mischa Barton, Yasmin Le Bon, Jade Jagger and Lily Allen.
Even the headline act, Kylie Minogue, made her Middle East debut after being reportedly paid 2 million pounds ($4.6m), reported Guardian newspaper.
After her performance, 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, said The Times.
Even the menu didn't disappoint.
As guests sipped Dom Perignon, they were treated to food masterminded by four Michelin-starred chefs helped by 500 sous chefs and 1,000 waiters.
In all, some 4,000 lobsters were dished out .
There was no evidence of the global financial crisis as party organisers seemed to pull out all the brakes for the world's most expensive private party.
In defence, British travel agent Graham Frazer said the party was planned a year ago.
The firework show's producer, MrColin Cowie, said: 'Had we been aware of the economic situation a year ago, I don't think we'd have done this on such a scale. But it was all designed a year ago and we wanted to dream - and then live that dream.'
South African tycoon Sol Kerzner, 73, chairman and chief executive officer of Kerzner International, who built the resort on the man-made Palm Island, said the costs were justified.
'If I had it all over again and I understood that the timing was what it was, one might modify a couple of the things ... but not significantly.
South African tycoon Sol Kerzner, 73, chairman and chief executive officer of Kerzner International, who built the resort on the man-made Palm Island
'When you consider US$20 million, it's a lot of money (until) you consider it up against establishing a US$1.5 billion resort.
'We've built something that's quite extraordinary, and we've got to tell the world about it,' he said.
The 1,539-room Dubai Atlantis resort opened for tourists in September.
This article was first published in The New Paper on Nov 22, 2008.
1 comment:
There is much talk about the real estate market in Dubai. Most of the market analysts believe that the prices of housing apartments are on the verge of a decline and may see as much as a 20% reduction by 2011.
Thanks, Palm Island Dubai
http://propertyindubai.info
Post a Comment