Abu Dhabi: The two-day summit of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is being held at a hotel that cost $3 billion (Dh11 billion) to build and where five kg of gold is used every year for decoration.
The summit is taking place both on Monday and Tuesday at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi.
A mind-boggling 20,000 people worked three years to build the majestic and opulent hotel that has 1,002 chandeliers, the largest weighing 2.5 tonnes.
The hotel stretches one km from wing to wing and is spread over a total area of 100 hectares, said the hotel's website.
Besides having a 1.3 km beach, there are 394 rooms and suites.
It's ballroom has a guest capacity of 2,400 while the auditorium can seat 1,100.
That, however, is no match for its open air concert guest capacity of 20,000.
"Five kilogrammes of pure edible gold is used per year for decoration mainly on desserts," the website said.
Nearly 200 tonnes of oranges are squeezed for fresh juice every year at the hotel.
The daily laundry capacity is of six tonnes and the hotel employs 1,800 employees from 49 different countries.
To ensure that the hotel stands out as an architectural marvel, marble was imported from 13 countries across the world.
It's expansive garden has 8,000 trees and there is a parking space for over 800 cars.
The icing on the cake — Emirates Palace offers the world's most expensive $1 million tailor-made suite holiday.
