Christmas came in extravagant fashion to the Muslim desert emirate of
Abu Dhabi as a glitzy hotel unveiled a bejewelled
Christmas tree valued at more than 11 million dollars on Wednesday.
It is the "most expensive Christmas tree ever," with a "value of over 11 million dollars," said
Hans Olbertz, general manager of
Emirates Palace hotel, at its inauguration.
The 13-metre (40-foot) faux evergreen, located in the gold leaf-bedecked rotunda of the hotel, is decorated with silver and gold bows, ball-shaped ornaments and small white lights.
