Giorgio Armani has opened his flagship Armani hotel in Milan, a joint venture with the Dubai developer Emaar Properties.

Located in the 1937 building that also houses Armani’s Manzoni 31 flagship, the hotel covers 162,000 square feet over floors two to eight.

The “palazzo” hotel, which is in the centre of the Italian city, boasts 95 rooms with a focus on “luxury, calm and beauty”.

With suites costing up to 11,000 dollars for one night, Italian designer Giorgio Armani on Tuesday opened his first signature hotel in the world’s tallest tower in the Gulf emirate of Dubai.

“Yesterday I saw this hotel come to life and I felt very emotional. It was marvellous to see this come to life,” Armani, wearing a black T-shirt and beige trousers, told reporters at a news conference in the hotel in the Burj Khalifa.

He said his reaction when he was asked to design the hotel was one of surprise.

“Are you really sure you want me?” he said he asked Mohammed Alabbar, the chairman of Dubai’s giant property developer, Emaar.

The financially troubled Gulf emirate of Dubai on Monday opened the world’s tallest building, a glistening concrete, glass and steel pinnacle rising 828 metres (2,717 feet) out of the desert sands.

Blazing fireworks rippled up and down the massive structure after it was officially opened by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed al-Maktoum.

He renamed the building, previously known as Burj Dubai, Burj Khalifa in honour of United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan.

Set to open in Milan in 2011 is the Armani Hotel, situated in Via Manzoni, one of the most prestigious streets in Milan’s fashion district.

The designer’s name will become muse to ninety-five luxurious guest rooms, a gourmet restaurant and Armani Spa.

The hotel will occupy floors two to eight of the historic building, which was built by architect Enrico A Griffini in 1937.