The most luxurious hotel in the world was the stage where Microsoft launches Windows Vista, the Office 2007 System and Exchange Server 2007. The three Microsoft products were released with both English and Arabic language support.

"Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system are among Microsoft's most significant product innovations, representing years of research and development," said Mr. Ali Faramawy, Vice President Microsoft Europe, Middle East & Africa and Regional Vice President, Microsoft Middle East & Africa. "These products will help businesses overcome the challenges of our increasingly information-saturated world, enhancing the way people collaborate, communicate, protect and manage content, and find, use and share information."

Windows Vista and the Office 2007 System have been made available in the Gulf region, at Gitex 2006, prior to the official release date in the United States. The Redmond Company has scheduled the unveiling of Vista, Office 2007 and Exchange 2007 under volume licenses at the New York's Nasdaq stock exchange on November 30.

"Our aim is to be different and an innovator at the cutting edge of technology" said Frederick Sabty, Director of IT at Burj Al Arab. "We offer the world's best service, the best food and beverages, the most luxurious accommodation, and the best IT. We wanted to make it even easier for our guests to access their e-mail messages, the Internet, and multi-media without the hassle of moving from one Web site or channel to the next. By becoming an early adopter of a new system, we are putting our guests on the first step of a big staircase because eventually they will all be using it for business and leisure."