10 Cool Things to Do at the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai

Aerial view of Dubai Palm Jumeirah island, United Arab Emirates
Delpixart / Getty Images

One of the world’s most daring developments, the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai is a haven for vacationers. Jutting out into the Arabian Gulf, this artificial archipelago was built in the shape of a palm tree, with a 3-mile-long trunk and a fan of fronds lined with luxury villas and five-star hotels. From water parks and wildlife encounters to beach clubs and boozy brunches, discover 10 cool things to do at the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.

One of the first things that strike you when visiting the Palm Jumeirah is its size. This giant archipelago is visible from space, and the outer crescent is more than 10 miles long. There’s also a sizable distance between each hotel, so walking isn’t advisable. Taxis are cheap and plentiful, and a monorail runs from the base of the trunk to the Atlantis, making it the ideal base for exploring the must-visit sights of the Palm Jumeirah.

01 of 10

Make a Splash at Atlantis, The Palm

Atlantic hotel, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

 railelectropower / Getty Images 

Address
Crescent Rd - The Palm Jumeirah - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Phone +971 4 426 2000

Standing proud at the top of the Palm, the rose-hued Atlantis is one of Dubai’s most recognizable landmarks. It’s home to a five-star hotel, celebrity chef restaurants, and a pulse-racing selection of entertainment and leisure options. Unleash your inner kid at Aquaventure Waterpark, where you can ride record-breaking waterslides (including one that shoots you through a shark tank), splash in the pools, or kick back with a cocktail on the private beach.

02 of 10

Swim With Sharks, Dolphins and Sea Lions

Dolphins jumping through the air

 Courtesy of Dolphin Bay

Address
44J9+V7P Atlantis, The Palm - The Palm Jumeirah - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Phone +971 4 426 1040

The underwater thrills don't end when you leave the waterpark. While you're at Atlantis, swim with dolphins at Dolphin Bay, get up close and personal with the resident sea lions, and take a tour of The Lost Chambers Aquarium, where you can snorkel or dive through lagoons that are teeming with 65,000 marine animals, including 14 species of sharks and rays. For something a little more sedate, sign up for a yoga session, where you'll feel underwater as you're surrounded by marine life, all without getting wet.

03 of 10

Kick-Start Your Weekend With a Boozy Brunch

Friday Fork & Cork at Crescendo, Antara the Palm, Dubai

Courtesy of Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort 

Address
at Atlantis - 22nd floor - The Palm Jumeirah - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Phone +971 4 426 0760

The weekend falls on Friday and Saturday in Dubai, and Friday brunch is serious business. Get your weekend off to a flying start with the Nobu High Brunch, a four-hour feast of Nobu Matsuhisa’s signature mod-Japanese dishes paired with free-flowing cocktails and champagne. For a family-friendly brunch, head to the Waldorf Astoria’s Secret Garden Brunch, where there is a kids’ corner and children under 6 dine free. Another popular brunch on the Palm is the Friday Fork & Cork at Crescendo, at Anantara Dubai The Palm Resort & Spa, offering an array of cuisines and live cooking stations from around the world.

04 of 10

Get Your Pulse Racing With Splash Tours

Splash tours boat in the gulf

Courtesy of Splash Tours UAE 

Address
Al Seba St - Dubai Marina - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Phone +971 4 362 6277

Strap in for a wild ride with Splash Tours. The pulse-racing, 90-minute speedboat ride sets off from Dubai Marina, cruising around the Palm Jumeirah and pausing for a photo in front of the Atlantis. You’ll then jet onto the Burj Al Arab before sailing past some of Dubai’s most lavish royal palaces.

Continue to 5 of 10 below.
05 of 10

Paddle Around the Palm

Dragon boat at palm jumeirah

Courtesy of SeaYou 

Address
Al Qouz Industrial 1 Warehouse 17 B2 - القوز - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Phone +971 50 554 7848

If you’d prefer something a little less hair-raising, explore the calm waters surrounding the Palm Jumeirah with SeaYou. Join a guided kayak tour and paddle around the crescent, taking in views of Dubai Marina, Burj al Arab, and the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Or, put your balance to the test with a Stand-Up Paddleboarding session, including yoga and pilates classes in the calm waters surrounding the Palm. If you’re traveling with a big group, why not take one of SeaYou’s dragon boats out for a spin?

06 of 10

Awaken Your Senses With a Coffee-Spiked Spa Treatment

Talise Ottoman spa

Courtesy of Jumeirah Zabeel Saray

Address
Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, The Palm Jumeirah, Crescent Road (West) - The Palm Jumeirah - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Phone +971 4 453 0456

One of Dubai’s most lavish day spas, the Talise Ottoman Spa at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, offers a host of pampering experiences. Awaken your senses with the Coffee Peeling treatment, where you’ll be scrubbed and buffed using Turkish coffee in the hammam. Or, treat yourself to “The World’s Most Luxurious Spa Experience,” a full-day session that includes a 24-karat gold mask, a rose bath, and a diamond body ritual. This ultra-luxe package consists of an overnight stay for two and a caviar lunch with champagne

07 of 10

Chill out at a Chic Beach Club

Riva beach club, dubai

Courtesy of Riva Beach Club

Address
Building 8, The Shoreline - Palm Jumeirah - The Palm Jumeirah - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Phone +971 4 430 9466

When the temperatures soar in Dubai, Riva Beach Club knows how to keep you cool. This chic retreat on the trunk of the Palm is home to a private stretch of sugar-white sand, a Mediterranean restaurant, a breezy gazebo bar slinging icy cocktails, and a palm-fringed swimming pool that’s chilled during summer (and heated in winter) for year-round dips. Settle into a cabana or kick back on a sun-lounger at Paradise Beach in the luxury hotel Rixos The Palm Dubai.

08 of 10

Spy Dubai’s Iconic Sights From Above

View of downtown Dubai, UAE from helicopter

 tobiasjo / Getty Images

Address
Crescent Rd - The Palm Jumeirah - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Phone +971 4 426 2000

Short on time but not strapped for cash? Discover Dubai’s most iconic sights with a City Circuit helicopter tour departing from Atlantis, The Palm. The 25-minute flight delivers a bird’s eye view of the Palm and the nearby World Islands, along with the Burj Khalifa and Burj al Arab, the skyscrapers of Sheikh Zayed Road, and the heritage architecture of Dubai Creek and the old town.

Continue to 9 of 10 below.
09 of 10

Freefall Over the Palm Jumeirah

Tandem skydiving over the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai UAE

Courtesy of Skydive Dubai

Address
Al Seyahi St - Dubai Marina - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Phone +971 4 377 8888

For the ultimate adrenaline rush, jump out of a plane as it cruises over the Palm Jumeirah. Skydive Dubai offers tandem skydives at the premium Palm Dropzone, reaching speeds of up to 120 mph and offering eye-popping views of the Palm, the Dubai Marina, and the turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf.

10 of 10

Enjoy Sunset Sips at the Penthouse

Sushi and drinks at sunset, the penthouse, dubai

Courtesy of The Penthouse at Five Palm Jumeirah 

Address
No 1 Palm Jumeirah - Dubai - نخلة جميرا - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Phone +971 52 900 4868

As the sun sets, hightail it to swanky newcomer The Penthouse. Located on the 16th floor of the ultra-luxe Five Hotel, this adults-only hideaway delivers jaw-dropping views of the Dubai Marina skyline. Ladies, pencil in a date with The Penthouse on a Tuesday evening, when Ladies Night sees you treated to three free drinks. Or, visit during the day midweek to take advantage of the Spa, Dine, and Pool package, including access to the Penthouse pools, food and drinks vouchers, and a 45-minute massage.

Back to List

10 Cool Things to Do at the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai