ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- The Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi says it is sorry a Christmas tree in its lobby appears overdecorated.
The hotel was criticized for using nearly $11 million in jewels as decorations on its 40-foot tall Christmas tree, but said the tree and all its decorations belong to a company called Style Gallery, reported WAM, the Emirates News Agency.
"The hotel is just a venue for exhibiting the tree", the hotel said.
The gems will be returned to their owner after Christmas.
The hotel said it regretted "attempts to overload the tradition followed by most hotels in the country with meanings and connotations that do not fill in line with the professional stands which the Emirates Palace Hotel keenly respects and complies with."
"Putting the Christmas tree is not a novelty, rather it is a tradition meant to share in celebrating occasions guests hold while they are away from their home countries and families."
