Gossip Worth Repeating: Barneys in Dubai

Photo: Courtesy of Nakheel

If you haven't heard, Barneys New York, the famed shopping destination, was purchased by a Dubai investment firm. The bid took many by surprise! While your StyleList was in Dubai this week, he overheard some juicy gossip about why Isthimar bought the retailer.

Rumor has it that Barneys New York was invited to open a retail location on the Palm Jumeirah, the palm tree-shaped, man made island, but the former owners weren't terribly interested. Annoyed with the refusal and unwilling to take no for an answer, the Sheikh told the city's investment firm with deep pockets to buy the company entirely to ensure the store's presence on the island.

The Palm will also feature a Trump Hotel, Cirque du Soleil, the Atlantis resort, over 30 other hotels, a huge mall and numerous beachfront residences that you can't afford (But David and Victoria Beckham own one!).