Michael Jackson checks in at the Burj Al Arab

Khaleej Times ^ | August 21, 2005

[Shermy]

DUBAI — Michael Jackson was here yesterday for a lunch at the Burj Al Arab along with a Bahraini delegation.

Security was tight at the Burj where he stayed in the Royal suite with a retinue of his own personal bodyguards at hand, and a ring of the local police securing the outer perimeter of the hotel. Media was denied access to the VIP guest and it was not known whether Jackson stayed the night at the hotel, or had left for destinations unknown sometime during the evening.

The pop star has been reported to be in Bahrain ever since he arrived alone in the kingdom aboard a private jet earlier last month after being acquitted of child molestation charges in the US.

It is believed that Jackson owns a property in the Kingdom. He was reported to have been 'staying with a Bahraini VIP', a member of the royal family of Bahrain, whose guest he was.

And quite in keeping with his lifestyle in the US, the self-confessed 'King of Pop' had been staying out of sight ever since arriving in Bahrain, which gave Jackson the 'privacy' that he craves for. More so after the high-profile child molestation case that threatened to send him to jail for a long spell. State-run television and radio in Bahrain had made no mention of Jackson's presence in the kingdom, and fans, even if they craved for a sight of the 'moon-walking' pop star, couldn't get a glimpse of him because there was just no way to know where exactly he was holed up.

[conservativewasp]

Country must have no age of consent laws.

[texianyankee]

""Hello, room service? Could you send up two 12's, a 10, and some Jesus juice?"

.....errr...make that some Mohammed juice....

[evets]

What's a 'nice' boy like you,

Doing in a place like this?

[Hand em their arse]

He's hoping no one will look at his face....

[holyscroller]

Looks like a big sinking boat, stern first.

[mhking]

Gorgeous building...

Never mind that the literal translation of "Burj Al Arab" is "Building of the Arabs."

Now, hopefully, MJ can stay there, and out of our collective hair...

[antiRepublicrat]

Wow, $1,000 a night for their cheapest room. Counting Whacko probably got the best and had his little entourage stay there, he probably paid over $20K for a night. I thought he was supposed to be near bankruptcy.

[Tax-chick]

Thanks - what a view they have!

[Bombardier]

He must have heard what ol' Mohammed had said.....

A goat for use, a woman for pleasure, but a boy for ecstasy.

Maybe ol' MJ's been reading the Hadiths.....

[HostileTerritory]

I find the interior extremely vulgar, though. They have a different sense of taste in the Middle East...

[Khashayar]

keep her/him there

[reagan_fanatic]

I thought he was nearly bankrupt

Nah - he still has a five and two tens.

[Ticonderoga34]

I wonder how good the security is in Bahrain? I think that the "King of Pop" would be a terrorist target.

[loreldan]

Mmmmmm-K I'll bite. You're joking right?

[Fawn]

A muslim country?

[Shermy]

"A muslim country?"

Little kingdoms on the Persian Gulf. Reportedly cosmopolitan.

Like everyone, probably want to get their hands on the Beatles catalog.

[Billthedrill]

Looks like a nice enough little place.

With your chauffeur driven Rolls Royce, discreet in-suite check in, private reception desk on every floor and a brigade of highly trained butlers who provide around-the-clock attention, you can be assured of a highly personalised service throughout your stay.

I'd end up gorging on those little baggies of chocolate pretzels they have in the mini-bars...

[miele man]

"...because there was just no way to know where exactly he was holed up."

Seems to me the writer for the Kaleej Times is on to Jackson.

[yankeedame]

So now he's going abroad for children because the U.S is on to him here.

I'm sure self-exiled Roman Polanski (sp?) could show him around.

[Kirkwood]

Dubai is the only place in the mideast that I willingly visit on business.