Palm Jumeirah is a massive man-made archipelago known for its lavish resorts and upscale residential community overlooking the Arabian Gulf and the Dubai skyline. Its palm-tree shape extends four miles into the sea and consists of a “trunk,” where most apartments, retail facilities and some hotels are concentrated; 17 “fronds,” home to opulent villas with private beach access; and a crescent-shaped breakwater on which sits the Atlantis, the Palm, the W and other luxury hotels. Trendy restaurants (many attached to big-name chefs such as Nobu Matsuhiasa, Gordon Ramsay and Jose Andres), cafes and bars are found throughout the Palm. The majority of the residential properties are villas and low-rise apartment buildings that feature contemporary architecture and interiors that emphasize clean, minimal lines, floor-to-ceiling windows and open floor plans. Residences can also feature distinctive Arabic elements, including ceiling murals, lattice screens and golden accents.
The Vibe
Palm Jumeirah offers luxury, comfort and privacy, with the tranquil beachfront lifestyle and water activities playing major roles. Although it’s associated with expensive hotels and resorts, it is also a beach town where its nearly 80,000 residents have access to supermarkets, public parks and a hospital, features of any community. Palm Jumeirah is considered kid-friendly, with indoor and outdoor play areas throughout. During the winter, residents can expect an influx of tourists, particularly along the crescent. Construction is ongoing, which means occasional traffic jams and noise.
Luxury residences line the ‘fronds’ of the Palm Jumeirah. (Delpixel, Shutterstock)
Landmarks
Palm Jumeirah is itself an iconic landmark that showcases daring engineering and dazzling architecture throughout.
The View at the Palm is a stunning public observation deck in the Palm Tower, a luxury hotel and residential development. From the 52nd floor visitors have panoramic, 360-degree views of Palm Jumeirah, the Arabian Gulf and the Dubai skyline. The View is accessed by a three-minute ride at the Nakheel Mall where an elevator takes visitors on a three-minute ride to the top of the Palm Tower.
At the center of the crescent is the five-star Atlantis, the Palm, which opened in 2008 and was the first resort built on Palm Jumeirah. Its massive size (1,548 rooms with views of the Dubai skyline and the Arabian Gulf), striking rose hue and distinctive Arabic accents make it instantly recognizable. The resort’s Aquaventure Waterpark is the world’s largest with more than 105 waterslides and experiences. and the Lost Chambers Aquarium. Its neighboring property, the cool, contemporary Atlantis, the Royal, is Dubai’s newest icon opened in early 2023 and resembles a series of stacked blocks. More i
The seven-mile-long Boardwalk along the crescent has commanding views of the Arabian Sea, the regal Atlantis and the Dubai skyline. It comes alive at sunset when visitors and residents watch the sky ablaze with color. Food trucks are nearby, and bicycles are available to rent in case you’d rather pedal instead of walk or jog.
Famous resort, Atlantis, The Palm stands at the ‘apex’ of the archipelago. (ssergey6 alifant, Shutterstock)
Shopping
Massive malls and ritzy retail outlets are found throughout Palm Jumeirah.. Among them are:
The Mercato Shopping Mall describes itself as “a community mall, serving the needs of residents in Jumeirah and surrounding areas.” Clothing stores, a Virgin megastore, a seven-screen movie theater and a supermarket help meet those needs in a setting designed to resemble an Italian Renaissance town with cobbled streets and piazzas.
The luxurious Golden Mile Galleria features one-stop shopping in 400,000 square feet of retail space housing a supermarket, international and local fashion brands, fitness clubs, salons and spas, medical centers, pharmacy, nurseries, restaurants and cafés. Just outside the mall is Al Ittihad Park, with more than 100 types of trees and plants local to the United Arab Emirates. The park also has a running track, playgrounds and plenty of green spaces for relaxing.
Nakheel Mall is a food-meets-fashion destination with a mix of international and local brands (Cole Haan, Calvin Klein, H&M), a food hall, play areas for kids, a movie theater and a grocery store. The mall has its own stop on the Palm Jumeirah monorail.
Other shopping opportunities include the Avenues at the Atlantis, the Palm, which has a Tiffany’s, and a branch of Hamley’s, the famous London toy store. The Atlantis, the Royal, offers next-level shopping with chic designer boutiques and haute couture labels such as Valentino and Louis Vuitton.
A rendering of the upcoming The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences. (Driven Properties)
Dining
Palm Jumeirah has a number of Dubai’s best restaurants and plenty of choices for beachside eats and casual dining. McDonald’s and other fast-food favorites can be found in shopping malls.
Two of Dubai’s three two-Michelin-starred restaurants are on Palm Jumeirah: the classical French STAY by Yannick Alléno at the One&Only The Palm and the intimate Trésind Studio at Nakheel Mall.
At Atlantis, the Palm, Ossiano, specializing in seafood, and Hakkasan, offering traditional and contemporary Cantonese cuisine, both have Michelin stars. Atlantis the Royal has 17 restaurants, including eight attached to celebrity chefs and one Michelin-starred eatery Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. Other Michelin-recognised venues include the one-star Torno Subito at W Dubai the Palm.
Beachside dining options include family-friendly Byron Bathers Club, which takes its inspiration from Australian beaches; the boho-chic Laguna Beach Taverna & Lounge in the Sofitel Dubai the Palm; Riva Beach Club, with a kids’ play area and temperature-controlled pools; and the Mediterranean-inspired Piatti by the Beach in the Raffles Hotel.
Need To Know
There are no primary or secondary schools on Palm Jumeirah. Local nursery schools on the Palm include Redwood Montessori, Asya’s Nursery and a branch of the Babilou Nursery chain. For primary or secondary schools you must go off-Palm. Options include Dubai College (British curriculum), GEMS Al Barsha National School, American School of Dubai (the closest school); and the Kings’ School Al Barsha (British curriculum).
A network of roads, tunnels and the Palm Monorail links the archipelago. The three-mile-long monorail is the area’s only public transportation system and connects all the key landmarks starting at the Gateway station at the island’s entry and winding its way to Al Ittihad Park, Nakheel Mall, Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark. The route, with five stops, begins at the Gateway Station and ends at the Aquaventure waterpark. Residents of the fronds may need a car to run errands or to travel to other areas of Dubai. (The Palm is not linked to the Dubai Metro, the city’s rapid transit rail network.) Bus lines and taxis are other options.
