One of the largest islands in Dubai, Palm Jebel Ali, will finally have a purpose after being abandoned during the 2008 crisis. Although Dubai is home to major buildings and luxury developments, some paradises were left forgotten, but they could soon be revived.
It seems that a multi-million dollar investment will bring life to this abandoned wasteland, and a series of villas will be built on this «palm,» offering amenities for residents and families who choose this paradise as their home and enjoy one of the city’s most stunning locations.
What the new villas in Dubai’s most abandoned island will be like
Although they had been forgotten, this luxurious archipelago will come to life thanks to an announcement by state-owned developer Nakheel PJSC, which awarded contracts worth 5 billion dirhams ($1.36 billion) for the construction of 723 villas in Palm Jebel Ali, set to be completed by 2026.
The construction companies responsible for carrying out this mega project are Ginco General Contracting, Shapoorji Pallonji Mideast, and United Engineering Construction Company. They will develop a series of residences ranging from 743 to 1,393 square meters, featuring luxurious amenities that will also boost the city’s real estate development, which is continuously growing and making a global impact.
What Palm Jebel Ali, Dubai’s forgotten paradise, is like
Palm Jebel Ali is one of Dubai’s iconic palm-shaped islands, featuring 16 branches, of which only six will be used for this project. This space will house a hotel complex of unique dimensions, in line with a city like Dubai, which already has 80 hotels and resorts and will add more than 90 kilometers to its coastline.
This new real estate program aims to accommodate up to 35,000 families in these comfortable units with luxury amenities. It will also emphasize the use of clean energy, aligning with the UAE’s new policy for all new constructions. «It is set to contribute significantly to the emirate’s economic development, attracting investment and tourism in the coming years,» authorities added regarding this ambitious plan.
The history of Dubai’s abandoned islands
Although Dubai is a city of constant architectural and financial development, some projects were left unfinished or never materialized. Such is the case of the well-known «Palm Islands,» consisting of Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, and Palm Deira. All of these were announced with great fanfare, but faced construction challenges. Of the three, Deira welcomed its first visitors in 2020, Jumeirah is the most developed, while Jebel Ali is just beginning to take its first steps in architecture and investment.
However, these were not the only ones affected by the 2008 crisis. Another ambitious project, The World, serves as proof that not everything in Dubai is gold. This plan aimed to recreate all the world’s countries in small landmasses with luxury amenities. Despite being launched 20 years ago, it remains incomplete and is the most problematic project to date. The same applies to The Universe, a recreation of the constellations, whose completion was initially planned between 2023 and 2028.
