ONE of the most famous ships ever built on the Clyde is to end its days as a luxury floating hotel.

The historic Queen Elizabeth 2, launched by the Queen in 1967, is being sold to the Dubai World company in a £50million deal agreed today.

One of the most famous ships ever built at John Brown Shipyard in Clydebank, the QE2 is also Cunard's longest-serving.

The deal was announced today as owner Cunard prepares the 70,000-tonne ship for her final voyage to the Clyde in September.

Special events are planned to mark the ship's 40th anniversary although she will only sail as far as Greenock.

The ship will then bid farewell to Scotland for the last time, taking up permanent residence off the coast of Dubai in the Middle East.

Cunard president and managing director Carol Marlow said today: "We are delighted that, when her legendary career as an ocean liner ends, there will continue to be a permanent home for her that will enable future generations to continue to experience fully both the ship and her history."

The famous ship will be delivered to Dubai World in November next year, to be berthed at a specially-constructed pier at The Palm Jumeirah development in Dubai from 2009 onwards.

The Palm development is the world's largest man-made island, where luxury properties - owned by a galaxy of stars - stretch out into the Persian Gulf off the shore of Dubai.

Dubai World chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said: "QE2 is without a doubt one of the wonders of the maritime world, and is easily the most famous serving liner in the world today.

"I am delighted we will be able to create a home for her on the newest wonder of the world, The Palm Jumeirah."

TIMESFILE: The 70,000-tonne QE2 was built at John Brown Shipyard in Clydebank. It was not until the Queen officially launched the ship in September 1967 that anyone knew what the vessel would be called. Until then the ship had been assigned the somewhat unglamorous name of "Job number 736" or Q4. The vessel was not named after the Queen as it is not Queen Elizabeth the Second but Queen Elizabeth 2, meaning it is the second ship to be called Queen Elizabeth. The QE2 is 964ft long and 105ft wide and can carry 1900 passengers. It has undertaken 25 world cruises and crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times.