Armani Hotel Dubai, the first hotel to open under the collaboration between Giorgio Armani S.p.A. and Emaar Properties PJSC, will be officially launched on March 18, 2010, it was announced today.

Exclusively housed in the distinctive Burj Dubai tower, the world’s tallest building, the Armani Hotel Dubai is the first of a series of hotels, resorts and residences designed by Giorgio Armani to be opened around the globe and marks fashion maestro Giorgio Armani’s debut in to the world of hospitality. Defined by its unique location, highest standards of aesthetics and service excellence, the Armani Hotel Dubai will be the most exclusive destination in the city.

The online bookings for the Armani Hotel Dubai will go live late January 2010, and prospective visitors can register online at www.armanihotels.com to receive further details about the hotel.

The opening of the Armani Hotel in Dubai will be followed by the launch of the Armani Hotel Milano. Other properties underway include the first Armani Resort, planned for Marrakech, and the first Armani Residences villas, for Marassi in Egypt. Further Armani hotels, resorts and residences will open subsequently in key international destinations such as New York, Tokyo, Shanghai and London.

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. Armani Hotels & Resorts plans to open at least ten hotels and resorts within the next ten years.

Giorgio Armani Group is one of the leading fashion and luxury goods groups in the world today with over 5,000 direct employees and 13 factories. It designs, manufactures, distributes and retails fashion and lifestyle products including apparel, accessories, eyewear, watches, jewellery, home furnishings, 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 Teen, Armani Baby and Armani Casa. The exclusive distribution network of the Group comprises 75 Giorgio Armani boutiques, 19 Armani Collezioni shops, 166 Emporio Armani shops, 165 A/X Armani Exchange shops, 17 AJ | Armani Jeans shops, 8 Armani Junior shops, 10 Giorgio Armani Accessori shops, 2 Emporio Armani Accessori shops, 27 Armani Casa shops and 14 Emporio Armani Caffés in 46 countries around the world.