Atlantis uncovered!

Oprah Winfrey and Lindsay Lohan may already have their invites to Dubai's most talked about party, but tabloid! is inviting readers behind the scenes to catch the action before the celebs have even decided what they're wearing.

Lockdown was the theme of the day on Tuesday at the Atlantis Hotel as teams of florists, costume designers, logistics engineers, pyrotechnic experts, safety squads, chefs, musicians, electricians, movers, lighting specialists and waiters hurried around a closed-off arena being prepared for the $20m opening ceremony tonight.

Despite security guards standing at every doorway, a tabloid! team managed to sneak backstage to get you all the details of the party ahead of the event.

Florists flown in from New York stripped yellow rose stems, bunched pink roses into perfect bouquets, sprayed gold edges on palm leaves with and made spherical rose centrepieces for the tables.

Kevin Crawford was another expert flown half way around the world for the party, but this time from Australia to create a giant sandcastle.

Working away on the beachfront he said: "It will take me about another day to finish and it hasn't been easy, but I think it looks great. Hopefully the guests will agree."

As safety and fire teams ran through endless fire drills, a drumming clan — who will open the proceedings tonight —practised behind the stage all set for Kylie. Inside, spread across the hotel's giant ballroom facilities, costume and set designers exchanged ideas while making giant sea creatures and outfits for a 60-strong crew who will perform numbers throughout the evening.

Outfits ranging from cheerleaders and skeletons to warriors and leotards hung along seemingly endless racks in the main staging area (along with the all important dressing gowns.)

Pretty in pink

While rummaging backstage tabloid! stumbled across Kylie's wardrobe cases untouched behind the dressing room (complete with air freight codes for flight from Argentina to Dubai). But what really made us do a double take were two large black cases stamped Il Divo (in a very similar style to a group by the same name's album cover).

Il Divo's management won't confirm anything, but tabloid! is asking: are the four operatic hotties, made famous by Mr Nasty himself, Simon Cowell, preparing for a surprise appearance in Dubai? If they are, we'll have it for you first.

Spectacular sushi

The hot goss in that sushi master Nobu Matsuhisa is flying in 20 tonnes of fish to make his signature black cod, and Giorgio Locatelli of Michelin-starred Locanda Locatelli in London is cooking his trademark pumpkin ravioli.