The QE2 - the most famous cruise liner in the world - is to become a floating five star hotel, moored permanently on the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Here we chart the QE2's final days, as it arrives in Dubai and is prepared for its multi-million dirham refit.

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The grand flypast was carried out by Emirates' third impressive double-decker A380 aircraft, piloted by Captain Abbas Shaban. As well as the Emirates A380, QE2 was greeted by a flotilla of local yachts, boats and leisure-craft led by a Royal Navy Frigate.

Cunard and Nakheel flags exchanged as QE2 settles into her new home in Dubai

United Arab Emirates: Thursday, November 27 - 2008 at 17:30
Dignitaries and officials gathered onboard the legendary ship in Dubai's Port Rashid for the official flag changing ceremony which saw Cunard, the British shipping company, hand ownership over to Nakheel, Dubai's master-developer.

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Global tourist numbers to hit one billion this week: UNWTO

Middle East: 11 hours, 16 minutes ago
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has said the number of annual tourists crossing international borders will reach one billion this week, with Chinese travellers the biggest growth driver, Reuters has reported. Tourism grew between 3.5% and 4% in 2012, with the billionth tourist expected to touch down somewhere in the world today, Taleb Rifai, the secretary general of the UNWTO, said. Madrid-headquartered UNWTO expects the number of world travellers to reach 1.8 billion by 2020, when one in 10 people will be employed in the travel and tourism industry.