How Palm Jumeirah was built
Palm Jumeirah is an artificial island made by land reclamation, with Nakheel as the developer. The first announcement and the start of work on the breakwater both fall in 2001, with construction of the breakwater beginning in summer 2001. The island is not a single slab of concrete. It is a sand island with a protective structure around it.
The island has three parts: the trunk, the fronds and the outer crescent. The crescent is the arc of land around the fronds, and it is a different thing from the fronds themselves. You can see the shape best from the air, on a helicopter tour over the Palm.
Timeline
The main steps, from the first announcement to the first residents.
2001: announcement and breakwater
The first announcement and the start of work on the breakwater both fall in 2001. The breakwater was begun in the summer.
Up to 2004: basic infrastructure
Sand came from the floor of the Gulf, and rock was brought from the mainland for the crescent. Basic infrastructure was in place by 2004.
2006: the outer ring
The photo of the outer ring under construction dates from 2006. At the end of 2006 the first residential phase was scheduled to be ready.
From 2007: residents
People were living on the island from 2007. A handover planned for the end of 2006 and the first people actually living there are two different events, so place the first move-in between late 2006 and 2007.
Our pick: the island's story from the deck
This ticket opens the interactive theatre on the island's history on top of the Level 52 deck, with a 360-degree view of the Palm.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Palm Jumeirah tours and tickets
See the island from the air, from the water and from the observation deck, with live prices and availability.
The breakwater and the crescent
The breakwater is crescent-shaped and 11 km long. It has two openings of 150 m each that allow water to move in and out. The crescent is the outer arc of the island, and Atlantis sits on it. Do not confuse the crescent with the fronds, which are the arms of the palm inside it.
The operator of The View at The Palm tells the story of the breakwater, its rocks and stones, in a museum exhibition inside the building. The exhibition is part of a visit to The View at The Palm, the observation deck on floor 52 at a height of 240 m.
The numbers and where they differ
Some figures use different bases, so do not add them up or convert them.
| Figure | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Land area | 560 ha | Given by the community administration |
| Developable surface | About 6 million m² | A different measure, so it does not convert to hectares |
| Breakwater | 11 km | Crescent-shaped, with two 150 m openings |
| Fronds | 16 or 17 | Counts differ between descriptions |
The Palm is usually described with 17 fronds, and some descriptions count 16. If you need one figure, use 17.
The island from above and from space
A photo from the International Space Station shows the Palm, and a satellite image shows it together with The World and Palm Jebel Ali. Both make the scale clear.
What you can check on the island itself is the length of the breakwater, the land area and the dates above. Slogans about it are best left aside.
Palm Jumeirah history: frequently asked questions
When was Palm Jumeirah built?
It was announced in 2001, and work on the breakwater began in summer 2001. Basic infrastructure was in place by 2004. The first residential phase was scheduled for the end of 2006, and residents lived there from 2007.
How long is the breakwater?
11 km. It is crescent-shaped and has two openings of 150 m each for water exchange.
How big is the island?
The community administration gives 560 ha of land. Another description gives about 6 million m² of developable surface. The two use different bases and do not convert into each other.
How many fronds does the Palm have?
Usually 17, though some descriptions count 16.
When did people first move in?
The first residential phase was scheduled to be ready at the end of 2006, and people were living there from 2007. Place the first move-in between late 2006 and 2007.
Can I see the shape of the Palm from the ground?
Not well. The observation deck of The View at The Palm on floor 52, at 240 m, and flights give the clearest view.