Abu Dhabi's $11 million Christmas tree
A Christmas tree that costs $11 million and is thought to be the most expensive ever decorated has been unveiled at Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace hotel.
The hotel may later contact Guinness World Records for a possible bid as the world's most expensive Christmas tree Photo: AFP/GETTY
5:20PM GMT 16 Dec 2010
The hotel's general manager, Hans Olbertz, was quoted on Thursday as saying the 43-foot (13-meter) faux fir has 131 ornaments that include gold and precious stones such as diamonds and sapphires.
It is the latest extravagance at the Emirates Palace hotel, which boasts its own marina, heliport and a vending machine for small gold bars.
Mr Olbertz told Dubai's Gulf News that he worked with one of the jewellers in the hotel to create a "unique tree and experience for our guests this year". The hotel may later contact Guinness World Records for a possible bid as the world's most expensive Christmas tree.
The Guinness web site lists a $10.8 million tree erected in 2002 in Toyko with 83 pieces of jewellery from Piaget Japan.
Christmas spirit is not rare in the United Arab Emirates, which is officially Muslim but hosts a huge foreign population. However, some Emirati officials worry about threats to Gulf traditions from the wave of Western culture from holiday celebrations to Hollywood movies.
