Dubai - US singer Kylie Minogue launched the 2-billion- dollar Atlantis Palm Jumeirah resort in the Gulf emirate of Dubai with a 45-minute performance set on the beach late on Thursday.

Kylie's debut concert in the region was part of the ceremony that continued into the early hours of Friday and had cost around 20 million dollars.

A fireworks display, reportedly seven times the size of the one opening the Beijing Olympics, had cost more than 10 million UAE dirhams (2.7 million dollars).

Hollywood stars and billionaires including Lindsay Lohan, Mischa Barton, Chalize Theron, Robert De Niro, Mary-Kate Olsen, Janet Jackson, Lily Allen and Shirley Bassey arrived at the glitzy emirate to attend the party, dubbed the "Party of the Century."

The resort, situated on a man-made island shaped like a palm tree, includes an aquarium that has thousands of sea creatures including sharks and eels. It also has more than 1,500 rooms.

Dubai, the world's fifth largest oil-exporter, aims to become one of the world's top tourist, business and entertainment destinations. (dpa)