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Jumeira Palm Island, Dubai

Palm Island Jumeirah (Jumeira, Jumaira, Jumairah), Dubai

The Jumeirah Palm is the first of three man-made Palm Islands in Dubai constructed by property developer Nakheel (a subsidiary of the Dubai government owned Dubai World). The islands are entirely man-made and are connected to the coast by a main trunk, with mostly residential buildings on the fronds, and mixed use developments on the outer ring and on the trunk.

• Construction of island began in June 2001. At the time, completion date was expected to be end of 2005.
• Land reclamation required almost 100 million cubic meters of sand and seven million tons of rock.
• Villa completion was expected to be end of 2006 with first 4000 units to be handed over starting at the end of November 2006 (a year later than originally expected). Unfortunately, in early November 2006, Nakheel announced another delay - to make sure everything was properly finished they said - to April 2007. Residents finally started moving in during June 2007. Other developments are scheduled for completion from 2006 to end 2008 which realistically probably means 2007 to 2010.
• At property launch in May 2002, all villas were sold out in 72 hours.
• About 1000 construction workers live in an on-site labour camp. Another 7000 live on a converted passenger ferry from Greece (as of early 2006).
• In June 2007, the QEII (a large boat from the UK) was purchased and will be moored as a floating hotel somewhere off the Jumeirah Palm in 2008. Rumours that the Palm Island workers intend to hijack it for alternative accommodation are unconfirmed.
• With all apartments, villas and hotel units occupied, there could be up to 100,000 people on the Palm Island Jumeira. Normal daily population is probably less than that, or will be stuck in traffic.
• Peak traffic to and from the Jumeirah Palm Island is expected to be 8000-10,000 vehicles per hour.
• Ali Mansour from Canada and David Smith from New Zealand are the design engineers for the Jumeirah Palm development, James Wilson is CEO of Nakheel.
• Original prices (OP) in May 2002 were (all figures AED) 4.65m for Signature Villas, 2.8m for Garden Homes, 2.0m for Town Homes, 1.1m for 1 bdrm Shoreline Apartments. Owners selling in 2005 realised gains of between 50% and 150% on the OP.
• Hotel developments on Jumeirah Palm Island will include resorts from Atlantis (building a water-themed resort), Anantara, Hilton, Metropolitan, Movenpick, Fairmont, Radisson SAS, Shangri La, and One and Only. Possibly also resorts from Al Seef, Banyan Tree, Dusit, Chedi, Marriott, Oberoi, Starwood, Taj. A total of 32 five-star hotels are planned for the Jumeirah Palm Island.

Palm Island Jumairah Developments

• Atlantis - a water themed resort built on 120 acres of the Jumeirah Palm Crescent. Will have over 1500 rooms and a marine wildlife facility. Expected to open early 2009.
• Kempinski Hotel Resort - 253 rooms. Planned opening 2010, delayed to 2013 according to reports on 16 March 2011 of comments by Ulrich Eckhardt, Head of Middle East and Africa division of Kempinski.
• Palm Mall - shopping mall with about 10,000 sq meters of retail area. First announced in April 2008. Construction might start in 2012 (after some delays).
• Palm Views - 192 studio apartments, construction to start late 2012, completion scheduled for 2014 Q1. Location in 2 buildings at the east and west marinas of Palm Jumeirah. Each building will have 96 studios, a fitness club, shops, cafes, restaurants, and car parking (announced 20 May 2012).
• Palma Residences - 104 Mediterranean townhouses, prices from AED 6-8 million. Announced March 2012. Construction start date 18 April 2012, completion planned by October 2013. Main contractor is Dubai Civil Engineering.
• Shoreline Apartments - 20 buildings with 2650 luxury apartments (1-3 bdrms) on the east side of the main trunk. Completion of first apartments expected end of 2006.
• The Crescent - an 11km long breakwater surrounding the Jumeirah Palm development with over 20 hotel resorts including the Atlantis.
• The Fronds - 17 fronds with over 100 villas on each frond. The first 1350 villas on 11 of the fronds to be handed over starting end of November 2006.
• The Golden Mile - see below.
• The Marinas - four marinas with 1500 berths - the Trump Marina, the East and West Village Centre Marinas, and the Shoreline Marina.
• The Pointe Palm Jumeirah - a new shopping center and marina promenade announced by Nakheel 11 January 2012 - see shopping malls in Dubai for more information.
• The Trunk - the 2km main trunk is connected to mainland Dubai via The Gateway Bridge - which will probably be referred to as the Gateway Carpark once the Dubai Palm Jumeirah is complete and everyone wants to go there. There will be water taxis and a monorail though, along with shops, hotels, apartments.
• Trump International Hotel and Tower - an AED 1.5 billion residential and hotel apartment building announced in October 2005, opening date planned for 2009, but rumoured to be cancelled as of February 2011 (according to reported comments from Nakheel) - more details below.
• Village Centre - 1000 apartments and some shopping at the end of the main trunk (completion expected December 2008). A joint venture with Donald Trump.

Trump International Hotel & Tower Dubai

• Project value AED 1.5 billion ($400m) when first announced, 48 or 62 floor mixed use hotel (300 rooms) and residence (360 apartments).
• Project value reportedly an extraordinary $2.9 billion (AED 10.6 billion) according to Arabian Business report 03 February 2011 (sounds more expensive than the Burj Khalifa).
• Located on the main trunk of the Jumeirah Palm.
• Announced in October 2005. Original design was a large golden tulip shape but new design announced in May 2006.
• Construction to start in late 2006, completion in 2009. Apartment sales in 2007.
• In May 2009, construction was suspended and Donald Trump was reported as saying "I would say it's not going to happen any time soon," when asked about a restart.
• Tower project cancelled early February 2011 according to Ali Rashid Lootah, Chairman of Nakheel Properties (developer of the Palm Island). But not confirmed by the Trump organisation when asked by Arabian Business.
• According to Nakheel, the project will be replaced by a shopping mall.

Jumeirah Palm Island hotels and resorts

• Atlantis
• Rixos Hotel (The Rixos the Palm, Dubai) - open 08 March 2012.
• Waldorf Astoria - on the eastern crescent of the island, opening date scheduled for 2014, managed by Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts, the luxury brand of Hilton hotel group. Owner or developer (?) is Al Habtoor Group in Dubai.
  • 13 Mar 2014 (WAM) - hotel officially launched, area 550,000 sq feet, project value AED 2.5 billion.
  • 27 Dec 2013 (GN) - opening date planned for Jan 2014.

Palm Golden Mile

The Palm Golden Mile is a mixed use development which will be constructed on the trunk of the Jumeirah Palm Island. The intention is for it to be one of the more prestigious areas of Dubai (actually, it seems like every development in Dubai is making that claim) in which to live and shop with around 220 posh boutique stores, restaurants and cafes. Move over Starbucks and MacDonalds.

Joint venture partners are IFA Hotels & Resorts and Istithmar PJSC, with Al Shafar General Contracting Co LLC as the main contractor for the Palm Golden Mile project. Completion expected in early 2008.

Palm Island Jumeirah Monorail

Marubeni Corporation will build a 5.4 km, $390m (1.4 billion dhs) monorail on the Jumeirah Palm Island. It will be a driverless train using Hitachi technology and will connect the main trunk with the Dubai Metro on Sheikh Zayed Road. Expected completion date is December 2008. See Palm Jumeirah monorail for more (actual opening date was 30 April 2009).

Palm Island Jumeirah villa problems and other issues

• Construction of the Palm Islands have affected Dubai beaches. A number of surf spots are no longer surfable, and there are possible erosion problems.
• The water within the Palm Island area was becoming stagnant due to natural water flow but this has hopefully been solved by adding gaps to the outer breakwaters.
• Possible erosion of the beaches on the fronds and breakwater and disturbance of marine life during the dredging and reclamation process. Nakheel claim they have done exhaustive studies and have a responsible approach to the environment.
• Construction delays. Expected completion date of the first villas has moved from end of 2005 to end of 2006.
• A number of people have noted that the villas seem to be constructed much closer together than what appeared to be the case in marketing brochures (it is of course debatable whether that's a problem with Nakheel or a problem with not reading the small print).
• There are reports of villas showing structural defects - cracks in walls, and unstable foundations with villas 'settling'.
• Villa owners are reportedly finding it difficult to visit their own villas. Whether this is due to normal access restrictions for a construction site or because Nakheel does not want owners to have an opportunity to complain depends on who you listen to.
• Concerns about quality of finish - another Nakheel development (Jumeirah Islands) had reports of poor quality when residents moved in, JI was also delayed by 18 months.

Last update Sunday 27-Apr-2014

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