Armani Hotels & Resorts launches official website

Notes and media contacts

Armani Hotels & Resorts was established in 2005 under an agreement between Giorgio Armani S.p.A and Emaar Properties with the objective to develop, own and operate an exclusive collection of hotels, resorts and residences in the world's most important cities and holiday destinations. The agreement foresees the opening of at least seven luxury hotels and three vacation resorts within the next ten years. The first hotel is expected to be opened in the last quarter of 2008 within Emaar Properties' Burj Dubai development, which is the world's tallest building. The Armani Hotel Dubai will include 160 guest rooms and suites, restaurants and a spa, covering more than 40,000 square meters. Alongside the hotel, the Burj Dubai will offer 144 luxury residential apartments all designed by Giorgio Armani and fully furnished with a specially designed line of products from the Armani/Casa home furnishings collection. The tower is the centrepiece of a new 500-acre community, Downtown Burj Dubai that includes The Dubai Mall. The opening of the Armani Hotel Milano will follow shortly afterwards, with a first Armani Resort planned for Marrakech.

The Armani Group is one of the leading fashion and luxury goods groups in the world today, with 5,000 employees and 13 factories. It designs, manufactures, distributes and retails fashion and lifestyle products including apparel, accessories, eyewear, watches, jewellery, home interiors, fragrances and cosmetics under a range of brand names: Giorgio Armani Privé, Giorgio Armani, Armani Collezioni, Emporio Armani, AJ | Armani Jeans, A/X Armani Exchange, Armani Junior, Armani Baby and Armani Casa. The group's exclusive retail network currently comprises: 73 Giorgio Armani boutiques, 12 Armani Collezioni stores, 140 Emporio Armani stores, 18 AJ | Armani Jeans stores, 118 A/X Armani Exchange stores, 7 Armani Junior stores, 1 Giorgio Armani Accessori store, 1 Emporio Armani Accessori store and 33 Armani Casa stores, in 46 countries.

Emaar Properties PJSC is one of the world's largest real estate companies and is rapidly evolving to become a global provider of premier lifestyles. Powered by its Vision 2010 to become one of the most valuable companies in the world, Emaar is charting a new course of growth with a two-pronged strategy of geographical expansion and business segmentation.

Emaar has highlighted its remarkable global growth by debuting on the Financial Times Global 500 ranking, which provides an annual snapshot of the world's largest companies. Emaar has been assigned A- and A3 ratings with stable outlook by Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investor Services, respectively. Replicating its successful business model in Dubai, Emaar is extending its expertise in creating master-planned communities to international markets. Emaar is also developing new competencies in malls, hospitality & leisure, education, healthcare and finance, which have evolved from its integrated approach to customer service and property development.

Listed on the Dubai Financial Market, part of the Dow Jones Arabia Titans Index and certified to ISO9001:2000 for quality standards, Emaar is developing Burj Dubai, the world's tallest building and free-standing structure, and The Dubai Mall, one of the world's largest shopping and entertainment destinations. In Saudi Arabia, Emaar is developing the $26.6bn King Abdullah Economic City, the region's largest private sector-led project. Emaar's portfolio currently covers the following countries: the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Algeria, Lebanon, Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Libya, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, the US, the UK, France and Canada.
An award-winning developer, Emaar has strengthened its product sale competencies, market reach and best practices through strategic acquisitions and joint ventures. Emaar acquired John Laing Homes, America's second largest privately held home builder; Hamptons International, UK's premier realtor; and formed a joint venture with US-based Turner International to strengthen execution capabilities.

Emaar has joined hands with Giorgio Armani, Accor Hotels and Premier Travel Inn to strengthen its presence in hospitality, and will launch ten luxury Armani Hotels & Resorts world-wide and several budget and business hotels in India. The company is opening educational institutions and healthcare centres in South Asia, Middle East and North Africa and the Subcontinent. Emaar acquired Singapore-based leading education provider, Raffles Campus, to extend expertise to its educational institutions.

Emaar holds 30% equity in Dubai Bank, focused on retail and commercial banking. Emaar is also the largest shareholder in Amlak Finance, UAE's leading Islamic home financing company. For more information, visit www.emaar.com.

For further information, please contact:
Kelly Home / Nivine William
ASDA'A Public Relations
Exclusive Affiliate of Edelman PR Worldwide in Middle East & North Africa
Tel: (+971 4) 335 5969; Fax: (+971 4) 335 6080