DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CNN) -- A huge man-made island shaped like a date palm tree opened Thursday (November 21, 2008) off the coast of Dubai with a celebrity-studded gala and a three-day party. The island officially opens with a spectacular fireworks display.
The Palm Jumeirah increased Dubai's shorelin by 100 percent after work started on it in 2001. It features resort hotels, homes, luxury shopping and entertainment.
Though the entire island officially opened, parts of it already opened weeks ago - including the Atlantis, The Palm, a sister to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas
The Atlantis played host to the opening celebration last Thursday night.
Stars including Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Robert De Niro, Janet Jackson and the Duchess of York were in attendance.
Pop star Kylie Minogue performed at the party.
Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra started what was billed as the world's Largest - ever fireworks display with more than 100,000 pyrotechnic devices.
When work on the island began, a team of Dutch engineers were employed to create the Palm by using a technique called rainbowing -- a vessel dredging sand from the seabed and spraying and piling it onto the desired area and into the requested shape.
A light display illuminates the Atlantis Hotel during the official grand opening party on the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai on November 21, 2008. Dubai threw a multi-million-dollar extravaganza today to launch a luxury hotel on an artificial palm-shaped island, despite the bite from the global financial crisis.
Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York attends the landmark Grand Opening of Atlantis, The Palm Resort, and the Palm Jumeirah.
Former US basketball star Michael Jordan poses for a picture at the official grand opening party for the Atlantis Hotel on the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.
US actress Lindsay Lohan arrives on the red carpet of the Atlantis, The Palm Hotel in Dubai launch party, which is the Middle East's biggest opening gala.
US actress Charlize Theron poses for a picture at the official grand opening party for the Atlantis Hotel on the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.
Chairman of Kerzner International Sol Kerzner (L) arrives with his wife Heather Kerzner and Chairman of Dubai World Sultan Bin Sulayem (R) for the grand opening of Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai November 20, 2008. The $1.5 billion mega resort with 1,539 rooms is the first resort to open on Dubais man-made Palm Jumeirah island.
Singer Natalie Imbruglia, Sir Richard Branson, Lady Joan Branson, Holly Branson and Sam Branson attendsthe landmark Grand Opening of Atlantis, The Palm Resort, and the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.
Australian singer Kylie Minogue arrives on the red carpet of the Atlantis, The Palm Hotel in Dubai launch party, which is the Middle East's biggest opening gala.
Janet Jackson watches the unprecedented pyrotechnics and illumination at the Grand Opening of Palm Jumeirah and its flagship Atlantis, the Palm Resort at the Palm Jumeirah Island.
Robert DeNiro attends the ceremonial opening of the resorts Nobu Restaurant during the Grand Opening weekend Atlantis, The Palm Resort, and the Palm Jumeirah.
The Atlantis hotel opens today - the flagship resort on Dubai's man-made Palm Jumeirah Island.
A sculptured glass fountain decorates the entrance lobby of the luxurious complex.The resort has four celebrity chef restaurants, a nightclub, a Spa and Fitness Club among other attractions.
Aquaventure is the resort's water park, consisting of rides with cascades, tidal waves and rapids and a Mesopotamian-styled Ziggurat temple.There are seven water slides, two of which catapult riders through shark-filled lagoons.
The resort is also host to one of the largest aquariums in the Middle East - the Ambassador Lagoon.Sources:CNN/Skynews/Seatletimes
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