Robert De Niro's Dubai launch

Robert DeNiro's Dubai launch

Robert De Niro, Lindsay Lohan and Charlize Theron attended the £15 million launch of the world's most expensive hotel.

Around 2,000 VIPs - including A-list actors, models, musicians, sports stars and businesspeople from around the world - enjoyed the opening of Dubai's lavish Atlantis Palms resort last night (20.11.08).

Guests were welcomed in style with a display of one million fireworks, said to be visible from space, and a special hour-long live performance by Kylie Minogue.

Kylie performed a 10-song set, opening with 'On a Night Like This' and closing with 'I Should Be So Lucky'.

For her £1.5 million appearance, she wore a specially-designed gold and black outfit by Jean Paul Gaultier.

Actors including Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, Ben Affleck and Rhys Ifans found themselves alongside Mary-Kate Olsen, Dame Shirley Bassey and Lily Allen - who reportedly wore £5 million of Chopard diamonds to the bash.

Tennis ace Boris Becker, basketball star Michael Jordan, businessman Sir Richard Branson and Britain's Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, also attended the event.

Lindsay Lohan appeared to have settled her argument with lover, DJ Samantha Ronson, and the couple stayed at the hotel's £20,000-a-night Lost Chambers suite. Samantha also played her biggest DJ set to date at the after-party.

Oprah Winfrey due to be the guest of honour, but was forced to cancel following the recent Los Angeles fires which nearly devastated her home. She was replaced by Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan.

A branch of high class sushi restaurant Nobu - co-owned by Robert De Niro and Japanese chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa - opened at the resort.

Nobuyuki himself joined other Michelin-starred chefs Santi Santamaria, Michel Rostang, Giorgio Locatelli and 500 other chefs to prepare a lavish buffet for 200 tables.

The resort also includes a dolphinarium and an open air marine centre with over 65,000 types of sea life.