The Palm Jumeirah is an archipelago of artificial islands on the Persian Gulf in Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is part of a larger series of developments called the Palm Islands, including Palm Jebel Ali and the Dubai Islands, which, when completed, will together increase Dubai's shoreline by a total of 520 kilometres (320 mi).[3] It has a population of over 25,000[4] as of 2022.[5]

Palm Jumeirah
Native name:
[1] نخلة جميرا
Nickname: The Palm
Satellite view of The Palm Jumeirah
Developments in Dubai as of 2010 with The Palm Jumeirah in the center
Palm Jumeirah is located in Dubai
Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah
Location within the Emirate of Dubai
Geography
LocationPersian Gulf
Coordinates25°07′05″N 55°08′00″E / 25.11806°N 55.13333°E / 25.11806; 55.13333
Administration
 Dubai
 United Arab Emirates
Demographics
Population25,550[2]

The islands were created using land reclamation. As the name implies, they were created to resemble a palm tree and are roughly divided into three areas: "trunk", "fronds", and "outer crescent". The trunk is a mixed commercial and residential area, the fronds are reserved for residential homes and villas, while the outer crescent is used for luxury and upscale resorts.[6]

The Palm Jumeirah construction was done by a Dutch specialist dredging company, Van Oord. The same company also created The World.

Construction

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The Palm Jumeirah Dubai, Villas on a frond
 
The Palm Jumeirah Dubai's frond
 
The Palm Jumeirah Dubai aerial view on 5 January 2013
 
Shoreline Beach in The Palm Jumeirah Dubai

Construction of The Palm Jumeirah Dubai island began in June 2001 and the developers announced handover of the first residential units in 2006.[7]

In October 2007, 75% of the properties were ready to hand over, with 500 families already residing on the island.[8] By the end of 2009, 28 hotels were opened on the Crescent.[8]

In 2009, The New York Times reported that NASA's laser altimeter satellites had measured the Palm as sinking at the rate of 5 mm (0.20 in) per year.[9] In response the developer, Nakheel Properties said they had received no reports of structural problems of a type that would be expected if there were any subsidence, and pointed out that the laser satellites had a measurement resolution of only 50 mm (2.0 in).[10]

Transportation

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The Palm Jumeirah Dubai's Monorail

The Palm Jumeirah Monorail is a 5.4-kilometre-long (3.4 mi) monorail connecting the Atlantis Hotel to the Gateway Towers at the foot of the island.[11][12] The monorail connects The Palm Jumeirah Dubai to the mainland, with a planned further extension to the Red Line of the Dubai Metro.[13] The line began operating on 30 April 2009.[14] It is the first monorail in the Middle East.[15]

Environment

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According to a study published in the journal Water in 2022, the construction of this island has had an effect on increasing water-soluble materials, changing the spectral profile of water and also increasing the temperature of the water surface around the island.[16]

The outer breakwater was designed as a continuous barrier, but by preventing natural tidal movement, the seawater within the Palm became stagnant. The breakwater was subsequently modified to create gaps on either side, allowing tidal movement to oxygenate the water within and prevent it from stagnating, albeit less efficiently than would be the case if the breakwater did not exist.[17][18]

In the summer seasons, jellyfish frequent the beaches surrounding the Palm.[19] In early 2020, due to the reduction of human activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in wildlife, such as dolphins, around The Palm Jumeirah was observed.[20]

Housing density

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After launching the project, it was revealed that the developer increased the number of residential units on the island (with a concomitant reduction in the amount of physical space between individual properties) from the originally announced 4,500 (comprising 2,000 villas purchased early in the expectation of greater separation between properties[21]). This increase was attributed to the developer miscalculating the actual cost of construction and requiring the raising of additional capital, although they had never commented publicly on the matter.[citation needed] The New York Times reported in 2009 that many people had bought houses before they were built and are furious about the space available now and the way they seem to be living on top of each other.[9]

Residential Properties

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Types of Properties: Palm Jumeirah has a varied array of buildings, ranging from townhouses to hotels to apartments and villas. The apartments are mostly concentrated on the Trunk, while the Fronds are bordered with villas.

Apartment Specifications: Apartments range in size from 375 square feet to 11,774 square feet, from studios to 6-bedroom layouts. Each apartment normally has a large living space, en-suite bathrooms, fitted kitchens, and balconies or patios.

Villa Options: The community has villas with sizes between 4,000 and 35,000 square feet ranging from 2 to 10 bedrooms. There is direct beach access from these villas, which range in style from classic Arabic designs to modern high-tech alternatives.[22]

Notable residents

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  • Grigory Anikeev, one of the wealthiest deputies of the Russian State Duma, bought a $13 million penthouse apartment in the Serenia Residences of Palm Jumeirah in March 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[23]
  • Joseph Johannes Leijdekkers, a Dutchman who goes by the name ‘Chubby Jos’, and is on European Union’s Most Wanted List for alleged narcotics trafficking, is a resident in the Grandeur Residences of Palm Jumeirah.[24]
  • Danilo Vunjao Santana Gouveia, a Brazilian who goes by Dubaiano, and was indicted in Brazil for fraud and moneylaundering in relation to a Bitcoin pyramid scheme, is a resident in the Palm Tower Dubai.[24][25]
  • Obaid Khanani, a Pakistani national who was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2016 for alleged moneylaundering for drug traffickers and organized crime groups, is a resident in Five Palm Jumeirah.[25]
  • Daniel Kinahan, leader of the Kinahan Organized Crime Group, is a resident of the Jumeirah Bay Tower-X3.[25]
  • The ruling Aliyev family of Azerbaijan owns multiple properties in the Palm Jumeirah.[26][27]

Hotels and resorts

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As of 2024, The Palm Jumeirah Dubai has around 30 hotels, located in the trunk and outer crescent of the palm.

Trunk

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Outer crescent

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Retail and dining destinations

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  • Al Ittihad Park
  • Choi Bar
  • Club Vista Mare
  • Golden Mile Galleria
  • Nakheel Mall[32]
  • Palm Views West and East
  • The Boardwalk

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Visit Dubai".
  2. ^ "Dubai Statistics Center".
  3. ^ "Top 8 Engineering and Architectural Wonders of Dubai". 14 December 2016.
  4. ^ "Population and Vital Statistics". www.dsc.gov.ae. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Palm Jumeirah | History, Description, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Palm Jumeirah". Visit Dubai. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  7. ^ "The Palm Jumeirah". thepalm.ae. 2006. Archived from the original on 17 February 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2007.
  8. ^ a b "Dubai's Palm and World Islands – progress update". AMEInfo. 4 October 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 28 October 2007.
  9. ^ a b Laid-Off Foreigners Flee as Dubai Spirals Down, New York Times, 11 February 2009
  10. ^ "Nakheel: Palm Jumeirah is 'not sinking' - Real Estate". Arabian Business. ArabianBusiness.com. 9 December 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  11. ^ Nice and Easy, but Fares Not So Fair
  12. ^ "Home". palmmonorail.com.
  13. ^ "Middle East's first monorail to start services in Palm Jumeirah by April". Gulf News. 7 August 2008. Archived from the original on 16 July 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  14. ^ "Palm monorail tried and tested – The Knowledge News". Time Out Dubai. TimeOutDubai.com. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  15. ^ "ME's 1st monorail to begin services in April". MENAFN.com. 8 August 2008. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  16. ^ Mansourmoghaddam, Mohammad (January 2022). "Mansourmoghaddam M, Ghafarian Malamiri HR, Rousta I, Olafsson H, Zhang H. Assessment of Palm Jumeirah Island's Construction Effects on the Surrounding Water Quality and Surface Temperatures during 2001–2020. Water. 2022; 14(4):634. doi.org/10.3390/w14040634". Water. 14 (4): 634. doi:10.3390/w14040634.
  17. ^ "Palm Island Dubai FAQ".
  18. ^ "MegaStructures – National Geographic Channel episode guide". Archived from the original on 24 November 2005.
  19. ^ "Jellyfish along UAE coastline". Ecocoast. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Rays, sharks, and dolphins enjoy new freedom as humans retreat from the oceans". 29 April 2020.
  21. ^ Moye, Catherine (20 August 2005). "Palm before a storm?". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  22. ^ Palm Jumeirah Area Guides, Bayut.com, 27 August 2024
  23. ^ "Russians bought up $6.3 billion in Dubai property after 2022 Ukraine invasion, report finds - ICIJ". 22 May 2024.
  24. ^ a b Report, Dawn (14 May 2024). "Global players feature in Dubai property leaks". DAWN.COM.
  25. ^ a b c "How Dirty Money Finds a Home in Dubai Real Estate - OCCRP". How Dirty Money Finds a Home in Dubai Real Estate - OCCRP. 2024.
  26. ^ "How Dirty Money Finds a Home in Dubai Real Estate: Leyla, Arzu, and Heydar Aliyev". How Dirty Money Finds a Home in Dubai Real Estate - OCCRP. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  27. ^ "How Dirty Money Finds a Home in Dubai Real Estate - OCCRP". How Dirty Money Finds a Home in Dubai Real Estate - OCCRP. 14 May 2024.
  28. ^ "Dukes the Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel | Luxury hotel in Palm Jumeirah".
  29. ^ "First look: Aloft opens first hotel in Dubai". 21 January 2018.
  30. ^ "Visit Atlantis the Royal now: New massive hotel opens on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah after grand reveal - Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More". Arabian Business. 10 February 2023.
  31. ^ "Waldorf Astoria Palm Jumeirah set for January opening in Dubai". GulfNews.com. 27 December 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  32. ^ "Nakheel Mall on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah to open on 28 November 2019". www.nakheel.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
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