Palm Jumeirah
The palm-shaped artificial island off Dubai's coast — home to Atlantis, Aquaventure, The View at The Palm and a crescent of luxury resorts, reached by monorail or road.
Palm Jumeirah was reclaimed from the Gulf between 2001 and 2006 using 94 million cubic metres of sand and no concrete in its outer breakwater. From the air it is a palm tree: a trunk, 16 fronds lined with villas, and an 11-kilometre crescent that shelters the whole island and carries its big resorts.
What is where
- Trunk: Nakheel Mall, The Palm Tower and The View at The Palm (level 52, 240 metres), Golden Mile shops, Club Vista Mare's beach restaurants.
- Fronds: private villas — no public access beyond the frond roads.
- Crescent: Atlantis The Palm and Atlantis The Royal, Aquaventure waterpark, The Lost Chambers aquarium, One&Only, Waldorf Astoria, Anantara and other resorts with day-pass beaches.
The Palm Monorail runs 5.5 km from Gateway station (by the Palm Jumeirah tram stop) up the trunk to Atlantis in about 15 minutes; the ride itself is the attraction, giving the only elevated view of the fronds short of a helicopter or The View.
Visiting without staying
You can walk the West Beach promenade, eat at the trunk's beach restaurants, buy a day pass to Aquaventure or a resort beach, and ride the monorail. The crescent's public boardwalk gives free Burj Al Arab and skyline views at sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Yes — the trunk's promenades, Nakheel Mall, the crescent boardwalk and West Beach are open to everyone; only resorts, Aquaventure, The View and the monorail charge.
