A new tower block in Dubai, which has been architected and developed to resemble a leaning iPod docked into a power station, is nearing completion and will open later this year.

Apple’s latest retail store opens in the Dubai Mall in the United Arab Emirates on April 27th, and the company has pulled out all the stops to create a truly impressive retail space.

Apple has today announced the opening date of its flagship Dubai Mall Apple Store which will also offer views of Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.

Apple today confirmed plans to open a new retail Apple Store at The Dubai Mall in the United Arab Emirates, with Apple retail SVP Angela Ahrendts making the announcement.

Apple’s two new retail outlets in the Middle East have managed to stir up a great deal of interest around the world. Not only because it’s the Cupertino-based company’s first venture into actually operating official retail space in this particular area of the world, but also because the store that’s set to be open in Dubai is purported to be Apple’s largest retail store in the world to date. After making the launch of the Dubai, and Abu Dhabi stores official almost two weeks ago, we can now have a glimpse into the Dubai space and see exactly what locals and tourists can expect to experience when the doors to the store finally open this coming Thursday.

Great news for those of you in the Middle East who want quick and easy access to Apple’s products and services. The Cupertino-based giant has announced that it will be opening its first two Apple Retail Stores in the Middle East on October 29. Anyone based in the region who wants to visit an official Apple outlet currently needs to make the journey across to Turkey’s capital, Istanbul, as that’s the closest store at the moment. As of October 29 that will no longer be the case with Dubai and Abu Dhabi set to benefit from Apple’s presence.

Apple’s iconic retail stores are recognizable the world over, but despite the company having broadened its horizons significantly over the past few years, major cities and shopping malls across the world have yet to be graced with the presence of the famed, glass-clad outlets. Rumor has long since suggested that a very sizeable store would soon grace the United Arab Emirates, with reports also implying that it would be the biggest Apple Retail Store to date, and now, it seems as though Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates will soon play host to a vast Apple Store.

Top of the list of places to stay, the only 7-Star hotel in the world, Dubai’s Burj Al Arab, is possibly the most luxurious hotel on the face of the planet. It should be, too, considering the $1,500 starting price for a double room. If you are lucky enough to be able to count yourself amongst the few people that can afford to frequent the place though, you’ll be greeted with your very own iPad to use during your stay. Not just any iPad though. Oh no.

With WWDC behind us, enthusiasts are starting to look at what’s in store for the next-generation iPhone, which is rumored to be announced within the next few months. A spokesman at Etisalat, a United Arab Emirates-based carrier that currently carries the iPhone 4, mentioned a 4G-based “iPhone 5”.

It looks like Dubai will be getting its first Apple Store on March 16th, according to Stuff Middle East and picked up by 9to5Mac.