Italian designer Giorgio Armani, who has built his fashion label into a brand empire covering everything from fashion to flower arrangements to furniture, has signed a deal to open at least ten hotels and resorts bearing his name.

Armani agreed the joint venture with Dubai's EMAAR Properties, which will invest more than £549 million, taking care of real estate, building and management. Armani will be in charge of the design and styling of the hotels, which will be full of his furniture, fashion and beauty products.