Dubai Palm Island | Construction, Cost, and Home Prices

Dubai's iconic Palm Island (Palm Jumeirah) is an artificial island complex located on the coast of the Persian Gulf. Designed to resemble a large palm tree, this island is famous for Dubai's luxury hotels, villas, and residences. Palm Jumeirah is a massive coastal reclamation project initiated by the Sheikh of Dubai; the islands created by land reclamation form a single entity approximately 5 kilometers in diameter.

Who Built Palm Jumeirah and When Was It Constructed?

The real estate company Nakheel Properties, backed by the Dubai government, is responsible for developing the project. The reclamation forming Palm Island was carried out by marine engineering firms such as the Dutch company Van Oord. Construction began in June 2001, and the first residential units were delivered in 2006. Thus, the total construction period lasted approximately five years. The project's master plan was designed by HHCP Architects; the emirate aimed to extend the coastline with a unique palm silhouette.

Artificial? Construction Process and Cost

Palm Jumeirah is a completely artificial island. The island was created by accumulating sand and rocks brought from the seabed instead of concrete or steel. The project was realized using a special filling technique known as the “rainbow method,” whereby thousands of truckloads of sand were sprayed using GPS-guided dredging vessels. The 11-kilometer-long crescent-shaped breakwater was constructed using natural rocks, thus preventing the island from being affected by waves. The construction cost of Palm Jumeirah is also quite high. Again, according to Dubai sources, the total cost of this project is estimated to be approximately $12 billion. This budget was spent on the island's filling operations, infrastructure work, and the residential and hotel buildings erected on it. Approximately 94 million cubic meters of sand and 7 million tons of rock were used during the filling process.

Villa and Residential Prices

Palm Jumeirah is one of Dubai's most prestigious residential areas. The prices of villas and residences in the area are very high. Palm Island house prices, the prices of luxury Palm Jumeirah villas generally start at 8 million AED (approximately $2.2 million) and can reach up to 100 million AED (approximately $27 million). An analysis of sales listings shows that the average price for villas on the island is around 64.5 million AED. There are approximately 4,000 villas in total on Palm Jumeirah, typically ranging in size from 4,600 to 15,000 sq ft. Most villas have private beaches, pools, and large gardens.

The Island's Solidity and Environment

The structure and durability of Palm Jumeirah were of great importance during the design phase. Thanks to the breakwater surrounding it, the island was built to withstand even giant waves reaching up to 10 meters. Although there were occasional reports in the 2010s that the island would “sink,” developer Nakheel categorically denied these claims. For example, in response to rumors on social media in 2018, Nakheel stated that Palm Jumeirah would not collapse and that the structure was safe. The creation of the island has sparked some controversy regarding its environmental impact; the land reclamation process has affected the marine ecosystem and altered the sediment structure along the coastline. Despite such concerns, Palm Jumeirah is recognized as a success story of modern engineering. Today, Palm Jumeirah, filled with luxury residences, hotels, and entertainment centers, continues to be an international attraction for Dubai.