Dubai will add another 110 kilometres of coastline to the emirate, reviving the dormant Palm Jebel Ali project that has laid idle for more than a decade.
The big sister of Palm Jumeirah – home to dozens of luxury and high-end hotels and resorts including brands such as One&Only, Waldorf Astoria, Kempinski, Anantara, St. Regis, Sofitel, Fairmont, Jumeirah and Taj – will similarly jut out into the Persian Gulf on reclaimed land, but with a significantly larger footprint.
Subscribe to LATTE’s free eNewsletter to keep up to date with everything in the luxury travel industry.
This week Duba’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VP and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and Ruler of Dubai, unveiled a new plan for Palm Jebel Ali. At 13.4 square kilometres, Palm Jebel Ali is twice the size of Palm Jumeirah. The bulk of the land mass for the project has already been laid.
Billed as “an iconic international waterfront destination”, Palm Jebel Ali will comprise a staggering 80 new hotels and resorts, spread across seven islands that make up the trunk and the crescent of the palm. The project also supports Dubai’s 2040 Urban Master Plan and vision to double the emirate’s economy in the next 10 years.
Speaking of Palm Jebel Ali, Sheikh Mohammed said: “Its marine and green pastures will provide housing with the highest quality of life and its visitors and tourists will enjoy more than 80 hotels and resorts that provide beautiful tourist experiences for them and their families.”
.@HHShkMohd approves new futuristic masterplan for Palm Jebel Ali, twice the size of Palm Jumeirah. The project will add approximately 110 kilometres of coastline to Dubai & will feature over 80 hotels and resorts. pic.twitter.com/TEU8Px2UEE
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) May 31, 2023
The development will also provide a wider range of entertainment and leisure facilities that will further fuel Dubai’s tourism sector.
“Dubai has entered a new phase of development driven by innovation and creativity. By taking advantage of the opportunities arising from the evolving global environment, Dubai’s competitiveness and reputation as a thriving global business and tourism hub continue are set to grow further,” he said.
Palm Jebel Ali is a project headed by developer Nakheel. It initially broke ground in late 2002 with a vision to launch in mid-2008, but was put on hold due to the financial crisis of that year…until now.