So huge you can see it from the space. Visiting the world’s largest man-made island is an experience that is unmistakably Dubai, so we jumped at the chance when we found out that there’s a small boat tour circling around Palm Jumeirah.
[Image Credit: NASA]
We departed at 12 noon from Dubai Marina. Although the afternoon sun was mercilessly hot, I couldn’t contain the excitement. Like most people, I’ve seen the mesmerizing aerial shots of Palm Jumeirah many times before, but I have zero idea what’s actually inside there.
With Dubai being a huge property market, in a way I was expecting to see luxury homes and resorts that are ridiculously overpriced you could never live in them unless you’re secretly married to an Arabian Sheikh… which is probably still true. But unlike other parts of Dubai, the buildings in Palm Jumeirah understand what understated elegance means. These buildings don’t carry any superlative tags, but they are straight-up gorgeous!
Jumeirah Zabeel Saray‘s facade looks like it’s lifted directly from the Turkish Ottoman era
Taj Exotica Resort & Spa evokes the grandeur of Rajasthan palaces
The imposing Kempinski Hotel & Residences is among the first to be built in the Palm
Kingdom of Sheba and Balqis Residence might as well be real-life LEGO apartments
The renowned Atlantis the Palm resort is definitely the most beautiful
We also briefly visited the iconic Burj Al Arab to have a different vantage point. It looks just as beautiful from the sea as it is from the land. The smaller, but still interesting Jumeirah Beach Hotel can be seen more clearly from here though. The two hotels complement each other aesthetically.
On our way back, as we passed through the Palm one last time, something unexpected happen. We saw this cool yacht that is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. Named “Dubai”, this is the third largest yacht in the world.
Overall, we had an excellent time cruising around Palm Jumeirah. It’s a different experience, and even with the horrible sun above us, I still recommend doing the boat cruise if you’re visiting Dubai.
Have you ever visited Palm Jumeirah or the area around it? How was your experience?
Scarlet Scribbles 