Emirates Palace gets 40-foot tall Christmas tree

A 40-foot tall Christmas tree decorated with jewellery has been put up at Emirates Palace, according to a report in Gulf News.

The tree is decorated with 100 string lights, and over 2,100 imported glass ornaments. It is one of the tallest Christmas trees in the UAE.

 

Ever wonder how they get the highest decorations atop the #TallestChristmasTree in the UAE? Have a look. #FestiveSeason arrives at #EmiratesPalace #InAbuDhabi Come to our official Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 8th at 7pm.

A video posted by Emirates Palace (@emiratespalace) on Dec 6, 2016 at 11:06pm PST

The hotel was quoted as saying by the daily: "It took a rotating team of 20 people over 33 hours to set it up and decorate. In fact, certified professionals were airlifted to reach the top of the tree to affix the jewels and lights."

 

‪#EmiratesPalace is getting its grand Dome ready for our Tree Lighting Ceremony tonight at 7pm. #BrightonCollegeAbuDhabi Children's choir will sing and the weather forecast calls for snow #InAbuDhabi #SimplyAbuDhabi #AmazingAbuDhabi ‬

A photo posted by Emirates Palace (@emiratespalace) on Dec 8, 2016 at 12:55am PST

In 2010, the Emirates Palace put up 13-metre fake evergreen tree in the hotel’s lobby, thought to be worth Dh11m.

The jewellery providers said that the tree held 181 diamonds, pearls, emeralds, sapphires and other precious stones.

"The tree itself is about $10,000," said Emirates Palace's then general manager Hans Olbertz, in comments quoted by AFP.

"The jewellery has a value of over $11m -- I think $11.4m, $11.5m," he added.

*This article was amended after Gulf News took down its original article which stated that the Emirates Palace Christmas tree was adorned with jewellery valued at nearly Dh40 million (US $10.8m).