ARTICLE SERVICES            Reprint this article     Print this article       Send as an e-mail     Send Feedback       Post a comment       RELATED STORIES   Key events in Suharto's life Suharto's death ends another chapter for Asia's strongmen (UPDATE 3) Indonesia's ex-dictator Suharto dies GALLERY 1 Next   Zoom    WELCOME. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo welcomed by staff of the Burj al Arab hotel during her arrival at Dubai International Royal Terminal in Dubai United Arab Emirates. JERRY CARUAL/PCPO Change Your World By Ruel S. De Vera, Associate Editor Sunday Inquirer Magazine MALCOLM Gladwell redefined the discussion about radical change in his first book, “The Tipping Point, ...More Swiss court orders return of money to RP Powder stirs anthrax scare in US Embassy Cops, soldiers make suspects untraceable Arroyo orders ‘war of rapid conclusion’ RP forms anti-Ebola team No LPG shortage -- DOE Cops, soldiers make suspects untraceable Senate seeks to commend PDEA agent Palace satisfied with PDEA work--Ermita DND: New EO to boost counterinsurgency More Stories » News BPO growth in 2009 similar to 2008 Testimony of drug suspect’s kin credible Parañaque taxpayers served snacks So, no one shot dead Jun de Vera? Swiss court orders return of money to RP 7 freeze to death in Europe Cebu asst prosecutor slain in ambush Brodetts vs Brodetts Palace lists down 2009 holidays Layoffs at Cebu export zone continue News Swiss court orders return of money to RP Mummy of 'ancient Egypt queen' found Cops, soldiers make suspects untraceable Death penalty pushed vs drug trafficking 'Family feud over money' Arroyo orders ‘war of rapid conclusion’ Kalinga now a major marijuana producer SC asked to disbar drug suspects’ lawyer Brodetts vs Brodetts Dave Brodett: Cager, character actor This lawyer should be disbarred Senate seeks to commend PDEA agent   News Most Read RSS Buencamino Photography & Associates Look for: Erwin Buencamino /Ana Marie Pia Tel.No.: +632.535.5360/+632.7172513 Mobile: +63.917.5410141 Susie Bonaobra Of Trends Wedding Shoppe Look for: Susie Bonaobra Tel.No.: 631.7806 Mobile: (0917) 893.9327

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is billeted at the Burj Al Arab, the only seven-star hotel in the world and one of the most expensive.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye confirmed in an interview that Arroyo was staying in the Burj Al Arab, but he said that the UAE (United Arab Emirates) Emir is paying for her stay.

"She's a guest of the Emir," Bunye said.

Bunye could not immediately confirm who among Arroyo's delegation, which includes Cabinet secretaries, lawmakers, and local government officials, are also billeted at the hotel.

Rates at the hotel range from 7,500 to 50,000 UAE Dirmams a night. One US dollar is equivalent to around 3.6 Dirhams.

Arroyo is in this city to meet with businessmen and launch investment opportunities for overseas Filipino workers. She arrived on Saturday afternoon and will leave on Tuesday morning.

Sitting on reclaimed land and surrounded by a man-made beach, the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab is an imposing sight on the Dubai coast.

A gold-plated ceiling greets guests at the hotel lobby. Inside, gold-plated arches frame the entrances to luxury shops and restaurants.

• Key events in Suharto's life
• Suharto's death ends another chapter for Asia's strongmen
• (UPDATE 3) Indonesia's ex-dictator Suharto dies

• Swiss court orders return of money to RP
• Powder stirs anthrax scare in US Embassy
• Cops, soldiers make suspects untraceable
• Arroyo orders ‘war of rapid conclusion’
• RP forms anti-Ebola team
• No LPG shortage -- DOE
• Cops, soldiers make suspects untraceable
• Senate seeks to commend PDEA agent
• Palace satisfied with PDEA work--Ermita
• DND: New EO to boost counterinsurgency
• DENR sets ‘one-strike policy’ on logging
• DENR sets ‘one-strike policy’ on logging
• DND: Crisis to affect AFP modernization
• Solon wants drug coddlers prosecuted
• Ex-PNP comptroller not yet clear
• MILF rejects pre-negotiation talks
• UN agencies inspect Luzon hog farms
• Testimony of drug suspect’s kin credible
• UN agencies inspect Luzon hog farms
• Drug suspects’ plea gets new justice