Modern Luxury 2005 unveils December 5

"Dubai is one of the world's most luxurious travel destinations and a global leader in the world of luxury shoppping," said Suzy Menkes, world renowned Fashion Editor of the International Herald Tribune (IHT). Dubai's retail energy and rich hospitality were the prime reasons for IHT to select Dubai as the location for this year's Modern Luxury 2005 conference. The event, taking place at the Park Hyatt Dubai on December 5 and 6, will feature prominent international and regional speakers from across the luxury industry, headed by Italian maestro Giorgio Armani.

Suzy Menkes, IHT's Fashion Editor said:

"It is no coincidence that this year's Modern Luxury conference is being held in Dubai. There is breaking news everyday out of this city. It is a hub of energy and a magnet for global brands. No where else in the world better demonstrates the luxury and designer consumerism. Dubai is on course to become the most densely shopped city on the planet."

Centrally located at the crossroads of three continents - Europe, Asia and Africa, Dubai taps into a hinterland of more than 136 nations. By 2010 the rapidly growing cosmopolitan city will attract 15 million tourists and is fast becoming a global retail destination. An increasingly discerning and brand conscious market, Dubai represents an exciting and rapidly developing area for the luxury industry and is the ideal location for an international forum of this kind.

With a growing demand among residents and visitors for world leading retail brands Dubai has been quick to respond with a plethora of new shopping malls to rival the size, luxury and choice of the world's leading retail complexes. With actual completed leasable retail space in the GCC approaching 50 million sq ft and another 27 million sq ft in progress, the region is growing at a remarkable rate with no sign of slowing in the near future.

Principal sponsor of Modern Luxury 2005, Emaar Properties PJSC is at the forefront of transforming Dubai with its Dubai Mall. Located in the Burj Dubai, a 500-acre mixed use future development featuring the world's tallest building - the Burj Dubai and some of the most exclusive lifestyle options in the city, the Dubai Mall is envisioned to be the "Mall of Malls". It will introduce to Dubai more than 40 per cent new and never before seen retail and unite under one roof the largest mix of retail concepts from the world. The Mall, which will feature a luxury brand section offering the emirate's widest choice of designer labels, will be completed by the end of 2006.

Mr Mohamed Ali Alabbar, Chairman Emaar Properties said: "The driving force behind Dubai's retail expansion is quite simply demand. Demand by retailers to meet the growing need for bigger and better outlets, fuelled by the rapid expansion of tourism into Dubai and demand by the people of Dubai to have the world's leading luxury brands available to them. Luxury, designer branding and quality are important factors to people in this region and we pride ourselves on our ability to compete in this market."

Speakers at Modern Luxury 2005 include Giorgio Armani; Robert Polet - Gucci Group; Diane Von Furstenberg; Elle Macpherson; Laudomia Pucci; Silvia Venturini Fendi; Simon Falic - Duty Free Americas, Inc. and owner of Christian Lacroix; Mohamed Ali Alabbar - Emaar Properties; Raffaello Napoleone - Pitti Immagine; HE Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah - Villa Moda; Mark Lee - Gucci; Giancarlo Di Risio - Versace; Mario Moretti Polegato - Geox; Shireen El Khatib, Al Tayer Group General Manager - Fashion & Jewellery; Jonathan Chippindale - Diamond Trading Company; Geoffrey Munn - Wartski; and Stephen Webster, Jeweler.

Sponsors for the event include: Emaar Properties PJSC as the exclusive principal sponsor; Al Tayer as elite platinum sponsor; SHARP, Global Luxury Living and ELITE Traveler as silver sponsors; and IFTF (International Fur Trade Federation) and ASDA'A - the Middle East premier public relations consultancy as supporting sponsors.