Inside the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, proclaimed to be the eighth wonder of the world
- Construction of Palm Jumeirah began in 2001
- But nobody could have imaged the sheer scale of the iconic project
- The eighth wonder of the world is so huge it can be seen from space
Published on May 20, 2024 at 7:46 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on May 21, 2024 at 3:26 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai is the world’s largest manmade archipelago.
The iconic project is instantly recognizable and said to be the eighth Wonder of the World.
To put its size into perspective, the Palm Jumeirah is such a massive project that it can be seen from space.
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The man-made group of islands forms the shape of a palm tree when viewed from above.
Construction began on reclaimed land in 2001.
Reclaimed materials including 20 million cubic meters of sand from the Persian Gulf dredged from the ocean floor and seven million tons of rock from the Hajar mountains were used.
No steel or concrete was used.
Per Britannica, it was developed by Nakheel, a real estate company now owned by the government of Dubai.
The first residents moved in in 2007 then, in 2009, it was connected to the mainland via the Palm Monorail – but flying cars could soon be helping out.
Due to its unique shape, Palm Island took extensive planning, specialized tools, and specific materials, causing costs to spike to approximately $12 billion.
The construction team used satellites and GPS to ensure the shape was perfect.
The unique island is home to some 60 luxury resorts in Dubai, including the Atlantis, The Palm, FIVE Palm Jumeirah Hotel, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, One&Only The Palm, and Burj Al Arab to name a few.
The unique destination also houses fine dining options, such as Nobu and 101 Dining Lounge, and over 80 other restaurants, lounges, malls, and attractions.
It’s also home to 5,000 waterfront apartments, 4,000 residential villas, and 1,000 water homes.
What you won’t find are palm trees.
Despite the archipelago’s name, there are none on the island.
An 11km (6.8 mile) breakwater surrounds the island and its sand in a crescent shape to protect the archipelago, shielding it from weather and large waves from the Gulf.
But that isn’t the only buffer needed against the elements.
Artificial rain is used to balance Dubai’s high temperatures – and it’s amazing to watch.
And development is ongoing in the bustling tourist destination.
The world’s largest airport is currently being built in Dubai – and it features five parallel runways.
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All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
