Land reclamation is not uncommon these days, but way back in 2001 when the project of creating Palm Jumeirah originally commenced, it raised a few eyebrows. Today many of those look with admiration at the symmetrical creation that has extended Dubai’s coastline and allowed the opening of Palm Jumeirah Hotels that could not have been accommodated before.
The strings of islands that are located within close proximity in the shape of a palm tree with a semi circular outline happen to be some of the most sought after pieces of land, where land values are extremely high. Plush hotels in the likes of Anantara the Palm Dubai Resort and opulent residential units comprise much of the fronds and the trunk.
The metro is the most commonly used method to commute to and from the palm Jumeirah where you can observe the immaculate accuracy of the shape, size and angle of the fronds while traversing along the trunk to the top of the tree that lies flat in the ocean. A palm was chosen to be representative of what Dubai and the Middle East is famous for; it is somewhat a symbol of the region. The Palm Jumeirah came in to being as the first chapter of a story that is supposed to contain three chapters, where the other two are reclamation of land in the shape of the atlas and the third a larger palm tree.
Environmentalists still do not look upon any of these projects too kindly as they believe that marine life in the Persian Gulf has been destroyed and distorted. However, Palm Jumeirah is widely recognized and sought after by even international celebrities. It has reinforced the strength and status of the Emiratis as businessmen of the modern world and showcases how forward thinking and creative the locals are.
Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
