Palm Jumeirah: The Complete Neighbourhood Guide to Beaches, Dining and Getting Around
Palm Jumeirah is a free public beach, an 11km Boardwalk, a monorail and some of Dubai's best beach clubs and restaurants on one man-made island. Here is how to plan a day there, and what is closed for now.
In short
- Palm West Beach and the 11km Boardwalk on the crescent are free to visit
- Palm Monorail: Palm Gateway to Atlantis is AED 20 (USD 5) one way, every 15 minutes from 9am
- The View at The Palm starts from AED 115 (USD 31) for adults, with the new glass Ledge included
- Closed for now: The Pointe and the Palm Fountain since 2023, and Al Ittihad Park for a rebuild
- Best beach clubs: Bohemia for parties, Riva for a relaxed day, Koko Bay and Canary Beach for long lunches
Related questions
Palm Jumeirah is the island everyone recognises from the plane window, and the one plenty of residents only ever drive down to check into a hotel. That is a waste. Beyond the resorts there is a free public beach, an 11km Boardwalk, a monorail with views and a run of beach clubs and restaurants that make a proper day out.
It also changes fast. The Pointe has been closed for redevelopment since 2023, Al Ittihad Park was cleared for a rebuild in early 2026, and the monorail only came back in July after six months off. This guide covers what is open now, where to eat and swim, and how to get around without spending half the day in traffic on the trunk. Heading to the coast next door as well? Our JBR neighbourhood guide covers the beach across the water.
How Palm Jumeirah is laid out
Palm Jumeirah is a man-made island that stretches about 5km into the Gulf from the coast at Al Sufouh. It has three parts: the trunk, a central spine of apartment towers, hotels and the mall; 17 fronds, lined almost entirely with private villas; and the crescent, the outer ring of resorts that wraps around the whole thing like a breakwater.
For visitors, nearly everything happens on the trunk and the crescent. The fronds are residential, so unless you are visiting friends there is not much reason to drive down them. Atlantis The Palm sits at the top of the crescent, Atlantis The Royal just along from it, and the One&Only, Six Senses and Waldorf Astoria resorts are spread along the west and east sides of the ring.
Palm West Beach and the Boardwalk: the free bits
Palm West Beach is the island’s public beach, a long stretch of sand on the west side of the trunk that is free to walk onto. The water is sheltered and calm, it slopes gently, and the promenade behind it is lined with beach clubs and restaurants. Some sections belong to the clubs, so if you are on a towel rather than a sunbed, set up on the open sand between them.
Palm West Beach
Free public beach and promenade on the trunk
Area: West side of the trunk, Palm Jumeirah
Access: Free; beach clubs charge for sunbeds
Best for: Sunset walks, calm water for kids
Map: Open in Google Maps
Out on the crescent, the Boardwalk runs for 11km along the inside of the ring, six metres wide and pedestrian only, with Atlantis at one end and the Marina skyline across the water. It is the best free walk on the island, especially early in the morning, with about 350 parking spaces alongside and a run of cafes and kiosks along the way.
WOW-Emirates Expert Tip: Parking at Palm West Beach fills up by late afternoon on Fridays and Saturdays. Ride the monorail instead, or come on a weekday evening, when the sunset is just as good and you can walk straight into most of the beach restaurants.
Beach clubs on Palm Jumeirah
The Palm has more beach clubs than anywhere else in Dubai, and they range from all day parties to quiet sunbeds with a spritz. Opening times and pass prices change with the season, so check our list of beach clubs open in Dubai now before you book. These are the ones worth knowing.
Bohemia at FIVE Palm Jumeirah
Bohemia is the party pick: a beach and pool club at FIVE Palm Jumeirah that books big international DJs and gets very lively by mid afternoon. Our Bohemia Beach Club guide has the entry details, and the FIVE Palm Jumeirah review covers the rest of the hotel.
Bohemia Beach Club
Beach and pool club with headline DJs
Area: FIVE Palm Jumeirah, the trunk
Best for: Groups, music, a full day out
Map: Open in Google Maps
Riva Beach Club
Riva is the Palm’s original beach club and still one of the most relaxed. It sits at The Shoreline on the trunk, with a pool, a beach and an easy going crowd of residents. Read why it still does it best.
Riva Beach Club
Pool and beach club with a local crowd
Area: The Shoreline, Building 8, Palm Jumeirah
Best for: Easy weekend days, sunset
Map: Open in Google Maps
Koko Bay and Canary Beach
On Palm West Beach, Koko Bay does tropical beach dining with the Marina skyline straight ahead, and it is the classic sunset table on this side of the island.
Koko Bay
Beach restaurant and lounge on West Beach
Area: Palm West Beach, Palm Jumeirah
Best for: Sunset dinners, groups
Map: Open in Google Maps
Further up the trunk at Club Vista Mare, Canary Beach is the newer arrival from the Canary Club and The MAINE teams, with a beach, a restaurant and the LYLO night venue next door.
Canary Beach
Beach club and restaurant
Area: Club Vista Mare, Palm Jumeirah
Best for: Long lunches, weekend brunch
Map: Open in Google Maps
Prefer a hotel pool to sand? Several Palm resorts sell day access, and our list of the best pool day passes in Dubai compares them.
Where to eat on Palm Jumeirah
The Palm has some of the city’s most talked about tables, but they are spread out, so pick a part of the island and stay there for the evening. Here is the short list.
Place: SUSHISAMBA
Best forViews and a buzz- Area: The St. Regis, level 51
- Style: Japanese, Brazilian, Peruvian
Place: Nobu by the Beach
Best forLong lunches- Area: Atlantis The Royal
- Style: Japanese beach dining
Place: Stay by Yannick Alléno
Best forBig occasions- Area: One&Only The Palm
- Style: French fine dining
Place: Bebabel
Best forSunset dinner- Area: Club Vista Mare
- Style: Lebanese
Place: The Tap House
Best forSport and a pint- Area: Club Vista Mare
- Style: Gastropub
Place: Logs and Embers
Best forCasual groups- Area: Club Vista Mare
- Style: American smokehouse
Place: Koko Bay
Best forSunset tables- Area: Palm West Beach
- Style: Beach restaurant
Sky high: SUSHISAMBA at The St. Regis
SUSHISAMBA sits on level 51 of The Palm Tower, inside The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm, with the whole island laid out below. Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian food, a DJ and a crowd that dresses for it. The St. Regis reopened on 1 November 2026 after a refurbishment, with RÜYA, Cordelia and KYMA Beach Club back in action too.
SUSHISAMBA Dubai
Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian dining with island views
Area: The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm, level 51
Cuisine: Japanese, Brazilian, Peruvian
Map: Open in Google Maps
WOW-Emirates Expert Tip: SUSHISAMBA is on level 51 and The View is on level 52 of the same tower. Book a late afternoon slot at The View, watch the sun go down over the island, then take the lift down for dinner. One car park, two of the best views on the Palm.
On the crescent: Atlantis The Royal and One&Only
Atlantis The Royal is a dining destination in its own right. Nobu by the Beach is the one locals keep going back to for long lunches by the sand. On the west crescent, One&Only The Palm is home to Stay by Yannick Alléno, a serious French fine dining room, and the chef’s newer L’Abysse overwater restaurant.
Nobu by the Beach
Japanese beach restaurant and pool
Area: Atlantis The Royal, the crescent
Cuisine: Japanese
Map: Open in Google Maps
Stay by Yannick Alléno
French fine dining
Area: One&Only The Palm, West Crescent
Cuisine: French
Map: Open in Google Maps
Club Vista Mare: the easy option
Club Vista Mare is a strip of beachfront restaurants on the trunk, and it is the place to go when you want good food without the hotel lobby. Bebabel does Lebanese with a sea view, The Tap House handles sport and pints, and Logs and Embers smokes brisket for hungry groups.
Bebabel The Palm
Lebanese restaurant on the beach
Area: Club Vista Mare, Palm Jumeirah
Cuisine: Lebanese
Map: Open in Google Maps
Coming soon: SAONA, a Caribbean and Peruvian restaurant, is due at voco Dubai The Palm in December 2026.
Things to do on Palm Jumeirah
Aquaventure World and the Lost World Aquarium
Aquaventure World at Atlantis The Palm is the big family day: slides, a lazy river, a private beach and the Lost World Aquarium (the old Lost Chambers) next door. A combo ticket covers both on the same day. Get there for opening on weekends, because the queues for the big slides build fast.
Aquaventure World
Waterpark and aquarium at Atlantis
Area: Atlantis The Palm, the crescent
Phone: +971 4 426 2666
Best for: Families, thrill seekers
Map: Open in Google Maps
The View at The Palm
The View is the observation deck on level 52 of The Palm Tower, 240 metres up, and the easiest way to see the full palm shape without booking a helicopter. It added The Ledge in October 2026: eight glass ledges sticking out 1.5 metres from the deck, four facing the island and four facing the skyline. Tickets start from AED 115 (USD 31) for adults and AED 80 (USD 22) for children, with The Ledge included.
The View at The Palm
Observation deck with glass ledges
Area: The Palm Tower, level 52, above Palm Jumeirah Mall
Price: From AED 115 (USD 31) adults, AED 80 (USD 22) children
Best for: Sunset, first time visitors
Map: Open in Google Maps
Want it from even higher? A HeliDubai helicopter tour flies over the Palm and along the coast, and it is the classic birthday surprise.
What is closed for now
Two old favourites are out of action, so do not plan around them. The Pointe, the dining strip opposite Atlantis, closed in 2023 for redevelopment, and the Palm Fountain shows stopped with it. Al Ittihad Park on the trunk was cleared in early 2026 for a rebuild that is planned to add sports courts, play areas and a dog park.
Hotels on Palm Jumeirah
The Palm has more resorts per kilometre than anywhere in the country. On the crescent you have Atlantis The Palm, Atlantis The Royal, One&Only The Palm, Six Senses The Palm (which opened this autumn), Anantara The Palm, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Raffles The Palm, Sofitel The Palm, Rixos The Palm and the Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah. On the trunk and near the base sit FIVE Palm Jumeirah, The St. Regis, voco and the Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, which welcomes dogs.
Weighing up a night away? Our best staycations in Dubai list rates the Palm resorts against the rest of the city.
Getting to and around Palm Jumeirah
The Palm Monorail runs the length of the trunk, from Palm Gateway at the base to Atlantis Aquaventure at the top, with stops at Al Ittihad Park and Palm Jumeirah Mall (the old Nakheel Mall) in between. It reopened in July 2026 after six months of maintenance. Trains run every 15 minutes, from 9am to 9.45pm at Palm Gateway and from 9.15am to 10pm at Atlantis.
| Journey | Single | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Gateway to Palm Jumeirah Mall | AED 10 (USD 3) | AED 15 (USD 4) |
| Palm Gateway to Atlantis Aquaventure | AED 20 (USD 5) | AED 30 (USD 8) |
| Palm Jumeirah Mall to Atlantis Aquaventure | AED 10 (USD 3) | AED 15 (USD 4) |
| Any station, all day | Not published | AED 35 (USD 10) |
| Family of four, Gateway to Atlantis | Not published | AED 99 (USD 27) |
Children under five, or under 110cm tall, ride free. To reach Palm Gateway by public transport, take the Metro Red Line to DMCC or Sobha Realty, change to the Dubai Tram and get off at the Palm Jumeirah stop, which connects to the monorail.
Driving is easy outside rush hour, but the trunk backs up on weekend evenings, especially around Palm Jumeirah Mall and Club Vista Mare. If you are going to Atlantis or the crescent hotels, the tunnel under the sea from the trunk to the crescent saves you the long loop.
Frequently asked questions
Is Palm Jumeirah free to visit?
Yes. The roads are public and there is no entry fee to the island. Palm West Beach and the Boardwalk on the crescent are both free; you only pay for parking, attractions, beach clubs and restaurants.
Is there a public beach on Palm Jumeirah?
Yes, Palm West Beach on the west side of the trunk. It is free to walk onto, with calm water and a promenade of beach clubs and restaurants behind it. Some sections are reserved for club guests.
How much is the Palm Monorail?
A single from Palm Gateway to Atlantis Aquaventure is AED 20 (USD 5), or AED 30 (USD 8) return. An all day ticket for any station is AED 35 (USD 10), and children under five or under 110cm ride free.
How do you get to Palm Jumeirah by metro?
Take the Red Line to DMCC or Sobha Realty, switch to the Dubai Tram and ride to the Palm Jumeirah stop. From there, the Palm Monorail runs from Palm Gateway up the trunk to Atlantis.
How much is The View at The Palm?
Tickets start from AED 115 (USD 31) for adults and AED 80 (USD 22) for children. That includes The Ledge, the glass ledges added to the deck in October 2026.
Is The Pointe on Palm Jumeirah still open?
No. The Pointe closed in 2023 for redevelopment, and the Palm Fountain shows stopped at the same time. For waterfront dining with an Atlantis view, head to the Boardwalk or the crescent hotels instead.
