Emirates Palace Hotel unveils $11 million Christmas tree

Talk about a sparkling tree. The Christmas tree at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi puts anything Clark Griswold produced to shame.

Earlier this week, the hotel unveiled what might be the most expensive Christmas tree in history.

The 13-meter (a little more than 42-feet) faux evergreen sparkles in the hotel’s gold-leafed rotunda and is decorated with silver and gold bows, ball-shaped ornaments and small white lights. The tree alone is valued at $10,000 but it’s what’s dangling from the branches that makes this beauty so pricey.

The hotel spared no expense to dress its festive friend for guests. The tree is draped with

a total of 181 diamonds, pearls, emeralds, sapphires and other precious stones, said Khalifa Khouri, owner of Style Gallery which provided the jewelry. Combined with its bejeweled accessories – including necklaces, earrings and other jewelry created from the gems – the tree prices out at a whopping $11 million.

We wonder what kind of presents one might find hidden under this Christmas tree…

[via ABC News, Australia]