The Palm Jumeirah is an iconic destination in Dubai and one of the most stunning islands in the world. Home to premier hotels and resorts, the 17-fronded island became a reality after six years of construction, courtesy of Nakheel Properties. The island is never short of things to do and you can explore its spine, crescent and fronds, which are dotted with top restaurants, spas, resorts, shopping malls, hotels and clubs. It has one of the world’s biggest man-made marinas while covering a massive 5.72 square kilometres (almost the same as 600 football pitches). And of course, it's home to top global celebrities like Shahrukh Khan and David Beckham (to name a few), who own luxurious mansions here. 
If you’re heading to Dubai soon and wish to explore/stay in the area, here is a brief guide to the lovely Palm Jumeirah beaches, top landmarks and a lot more. 

Top Things to Do in Palm Jumeirah

1. Dive into Atlantis, The Palm: Aquaventure Waterpark, The Lost Chambers Aquarium, Dolphin Bay and Sea Lion Point

Atlantis, The Palm is one of the biggest attractions for visitors to the area. It is also home to the Aquaventure Waterpark, the biggest water park in the world. There are many slides and multiple attractions including the Atlas Village, which is home to stunning South African fur seals. 
You can go on an exciting journey to The Lost Chambers Aquarium with its 65,000+ marine species and check out the mythical lost city of Atlantis. 

Participate in exciting watersports activities and go underwater to view marine life with diving, Aquatrek and snorkelling experiences available for guests. There is also the thrilling Fish Tales Tour and Underwater Yoga to keep you engaged. 
Don’t miss a trip to Sea Lion Point where you can interact with friendly seals or venture to swim with dolphins, along with going deep-swimming with them. All in all, it promises to be a fabulous experience indeed! 

Key Tips: 

• The waterpark has special events like Sunset Saturdays where it remains open till 9 PM (on till 30th November)
• You can opt for an Aquaventure Day Pass which gives you access to all experiences and slides along with the Surf’s Up wave rider, private beach and the complimentary Dolphin Discovery Presentation 
• There are Aquaventure + Aquarium and Aquaventure Day Pass + Dolphin Encounter passes available too 
• Opening hours are between 9 AM and 5.30 PM for the water park and Atlas Village, while the aquarium timings are between 10 AM and 9 PM
• Two-year-olds and below may join the Sea Lion Point experience for free
• There are multiple Dolphinarium packages, with average show times of 20 minutes each. 

2. Chill Out on Palm Jumeirah’s Beaches: Public Beaches and Private Resorts

One of the top things to do in Palm Jumeirah is to chill out and relax at some of the best beaches and private (read: exclusive) resorts in Dubai. 
The Palm West Beach is one of the top hotspots for visitors with multiple dining and entertainment choices, while the Atlantis Aquaventure also offers access to some charming beaches. Private beaches along the Palm also include the RIVA Beach Club or WET Deck by W Dubai among others. 

The Kite Beach is an ideal option for watersports activities like wakeboarding and kitesurfing, while the Jumeirah Beach is one of the oldest free beaches in Dubai. It also gives you access to landmark structures like the Wild Wadi Water Park, Madinat Jumeirah and Burj Al Arab.  
Then there’s the Al Sufouh or Black Palace beach with its stunning views and the Sunset Beach (Umm Suqeim) where you can take photographs with the Burj Al Arab in the backdrop.
Hop over to the prime RIVA Beach Club with its fabulous views of the Downtown Dubai skyline and Arabian Gulf along with its private beach, temperature-controlled pools, and fine dining options. 

Key Tips: 

• Don’t miss exploring the Palm Jumeirah Boardwalk with its food trucks and panoramic views
• Kite Beach timings are between 10 AM-12 AM/1 AM
• There is no Palm Jumeirah beach entrance fee and you can go swimming and cycling here (timings between 7.30 AM and 5.30 PM)
• The RIVA Beach Club comes with Summer Day Pass access with prices ranging between AED 75-150. There are offers on F&B with pool and beach access passes too. 

3. Chill Out on Palm Jumeirah’s Beaches

The scenic route of the Palm Monorail is something that you should not miss at any cost. This is one of the most-photographed rides in the Emirate and the stunning vistas will leave you spellbound as you go through the Palm Jumeirah. 
You can explore landmarks like the Al Ittihad Park, Atlantis Aquaventure, Nakheel Mall and others on your route. The line covers 5.45 kilometres and is the first such monorail of the Middle East’s sole public transportation system that is privately owned. 

Key Tips: 

• Trip prices are between AED 5-20, depending on the station. 
• You will get three hours of free parking time in The Palm Gateway Station with every ticket (AED 10 is the per-hour fee after three hours). 
• You can purchase a Day Pass for AED 35 with unlimited rides. 
• Children below 110 cm can ride without paying. 

4. Dining with a View at The Pointe

When it comes to waterfront dining, nothing beats The Pointe in Palm Jumeirah. And of course, there’s the iconic Palm Fountain. This offers fabulous shows from sunset to midnight each day. It uses 3,000 LED lights to project captivating shades onto the surrounding air and water, with live entertainment for company. 

Some of the top restaurants here have charming outdoor dining zones with full view of the amazing light and water show. Top picks include the Argentina Grill Restaurante, Chuan, Samakje Restaurant & Lounge, Kyo Restaurant & Lounge, Enish, Joonam, Hook & Cook and more. 

Key Tips: 

• Meal prices at waterfront restaurants are usually between AED 250-370 for two (subject to change)
• Each Palm Fountain show encompasses three minutes and shows are held every 30 minutes. The timings are 6 PM-12 AM on Fridays and Saturdays and 6.30-10.30 PM between Sunday and Thursday. 

5. Experience Exclusive Beach Clubs

Checking out exclusive and popular beach clubs is also one of the top things to do in Palm Jumeirah. The WHITE Beach at Atlantis is one of the hottest places to chill, with its stunning pools, outdoor restaurant and global cuisine. Nikki Beach is another leisure hub in Palm Jumeirah, with its luxury beach club concept, complete with amazing music, contemporary restaurants, Nikki Spa services, beach and night entertainment options and more. 

Key Tips: 

• The WHITE Beach has several exclusive offers (ala carte) for Christmas and New Year with music and other specials 
• Daily timings of the WHITE Beach are between 10 AM and 8 PM, with the restaurant timings being 12 PM-8/11 PM, depending on the day
• The WHITE Club dress code is beach chic, i.e. shirts with sleeves, footwear, tailored shorts or the UAE national dress (after 6 PM in the restaurant)
• The rules for Nikki Beach include resort/summer wear as the dress code and valid government IDs for entry. Reservations are recommended in advance. 

6. Shop and Stroll at Nakheel Mall 

No trip to Palm Jumeirah is complete without visiting the marvellous Nakheel Mall. Its anchor stores include H&M and Waitrose & Partners, while other attractions include Vox Cinemas, Fabyland, Trampo Extreme and Orange Wheels (to keep the whole family engaged). 
Don’t miss the Observation Deck on level 52 of the Palm Tower rooftop with its 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape.  

Top shopping choices here include Puma, Rosa Clara, Splash, Dubaiwear and a lot more. Check out the Depachika Food Hall with its Japanese influences and other F&B hits like Bateel, Din Tai Fung, Starbucks and Shake Shack. 

Key Tips: 

• Timings for the Nakheel Mall rooftop are between 10 AM to 8 PM. 
• The mall has its monorail station and direct walkways and bridges to Palm Jumeirah
• There is a free shuttle bus service which runs across the area (you’ll find it on the mall’s official website)
• The mall timings are 10 AM-10 PM on all days

7. Explore Al Ittihad Park and the Palm Boardwalk

There is no dearth of green spaces in Palm Jumeirah for visitors to enjoy. The Al Ittihad Park has 100+ types of plants and trees along with a running track that covers 3.2 kilometres. From yoga and picnics to charming walks, this is the place to check out in the area. 

The Palm Boardwalk is not technically a park. However, it is a stunning walkway covering 11 kilometres along the outer crescent of Palm Jumeirah. Enjoy the fabulous skyline and Arabian Gulf views on both sides, while running, walking and even cycling here. 

Key Tips: 

• There are benches and kiosks along the Boardwalk to help you rest and refuel
• Don’t miss the souvenir stores and food outlets here

8. Cruise Around Palm Jumeirah 

How about enjoying the happening cruise circuit of Palm Jumeirah? You can opt for yacht rentals and even speedboat and sightseeing tours on the water. This will give you a chance to witness some of the area’s biggest landmarks in a new light, along with capturing mesmerising photographs of the city skyline. From royal palaces to the Burj Al Arab, there are plenty of attractions on the route. Yachts from 30-100 ft are usually available for exclusive tours. 

Key Tips: 

• There are Atlantis Palm, Marina and Burj Al Arab speedboat tours that you can choose here
• Nakheel has its own Xclusive Palm Cruise where you ride around in a deluxe motor yacht on the outer crescent
• Check the headcount limits for cruises and book in advance 
• Many cruises include tour guides and bottled water 

9. Water Sports and Adventure

Palm Jumeirah offers tons of water sports activities and entertainment. Some of the popular options here include snorkelling, kayaking, windsurfing, paddle boarding and more. You can check out the details of these activities when you visit several strategic points along the major beaches or clubs here. 

Key Tips: 

Watersports activities are available at the Club Vista Mare and Palm West Beach
Some options are also provided at The Pointe 
The Nakheel Mall station and Golden Mile Galleria station are the nearest transit points to these activities 

10. Pamper Yourself with a Spa Day

Want a relaxing spa day to pamper yourself? Look no further than the Talise Ottoman Spa in Palm Jumeirah’s Zabeel Saray, famous for blending modern treatments with traditional Ottoman healing principles. Top attractions here include the Snow Room, Royal Ottoman Hammam and Sultan’s Massage along with the Thalassotherapy Pool. 

Another option is the luxurious Anantara Spa with its vast line-up of treatments, including Arabian, Asian and many other therapies. There are Turkish Hammam and hydrotherapy offerings here along with non-invasive cosmetic procedures as well. It also has an Ayurveda room, cocoon room, couples’ suites and salon. 

Key Tips: 

• The Talise Ottoman Spa timings are between 9 AM and 9.30 PM each day 
• Timings for the Anantara Spa are between 10 AM and 10 PM 

11. Palm Jumeirah’s Nightlife

Palm Jumeirah offers a vibrant nightlife circuit with several popular bars, clubs and lounges. You can try The Penthouse at FIVE Palm Jumeirah with its fabulous skyline views and dining options. This rooftop club and lounge is known for hosting several iconic events, with its menu helmed by Chef Frederick Faucheux. 

There is also the Breeze Beach Grill at Club Vista Mare which stands out for its amazing beverages, beachside location, views and vibrant parties on Fridays and Saturdays. It is also a pet-friendly property and you should ideally visit it around sunset to enjoy the enchanting atmosphere. 

Key Tips: 

• The Penthouse at FIVE Palm Jumeirah offers Fashion Ladies Night every Tuesday from 8 PM onwards 
• The lounge and terrace timings are 4 PM-4 AM for The Penthouse at FIVE Palm Jumeirah, with the club opening from 10 PM onwards 
• The Breeze Beach Grill at Club Vista Mare timings are between 12 PM to 2 PM
• There are also Happy Hours at the Breeze Beach Grill at Club Vista Mare almost every day between 4-7 PM

Conclusion 

Enjoying the Palm Jumeirah beach life has its fair share of perks. Not only do you get to enjoy thrilling adventures and view stunning landmarks, but you also get to relax and chill on pristine beaches and go on exciting cruises. And then there’s the eclectic combination of dining, nightlife, shopping and recreation that attracts visitors in large numbers every year. Check out accommodation options in the Palm Jumeirah area when you visit Dubai next. Find serviced apartments in Palm Jumeirah’s hottest attractions and savour your time in one of the Emirate’s best locations.