Nakheel created Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, the artificial palm-shaped island.
The project is one of three planned Palm Islands off Dubai’s coast, although Palm Jumeirah is the only one substantially developed. Construction began in 2001, and the island’s crescent, trunk, and fronds were formed by placing millions of cubic metres of marine sand and rock.
Nakheel, a Dubai-based property developer, planned the island as a major residential, hospitality, and leisure destination. The development includes villas, apartment buildings, hotels, beaches, restaurants, and tourism attractions. Atlantis, The Palm opened at the island’s crescent in 2008 and became one of its most recognizable landmarks.
Palm Jumeirah is connected to mainland Dubai by a bridge and is served by a driverless monorail. It is often described as a man-made island, but that phrase refers to the engineering and reclamation process rather than a naturally formed landmass. The island’s distinctive geometry is visible from space and is a defining example of Dubai’s large-scale waterfront development.