What Palm Jumeirah is
Palm Jumeirah was developed by Nakheel, now part of Dubai Holding. The National records that construction began in June 2001 and that the first residents arrived in 2007. The island has a trunk with apartment buildings and hotels, 16 fronds lined with villas, and an outer crescent of hotels and resorts.
It is a freehold area, so foreigners can own villas and apartments outright.
What you can buy on the Palm
- Frond villas: mostly resale, with private beach access. Condition varies a lot, from original villas to fully rebuilt ones, so compare like with like.
- Apartments on the trunk and Shoreline: an established resale and rental market.
- New luxury and branded towers: launches in our directory include One at Palm Jumeirah (Omniyat), One Crescent (AHS Properties), Serenia Residences on the East Crescent (Palma Holding), Seven Palm (Seven Tides) and Ellington's Palm projects.
What to check on a Palm Jumeirah purchase
- For villas: the plot, the build and any modifications, and whether they were approved by the master developer.
- For branded residences: what the brand fee and service charges include, and any rental restrictions in the operator agreement.
- For off-plan towers: DLD registration and escrow, the construction progress published by DLD, and the completion date in the SPA.
- Access and views: which side of a frond, and whether a view could be blocked by future building.
Developers with projects in Palm Jumeirah
- NakheelMaster developer · Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, Dubai Islands, JVC
- OmniyatLuxury & premium · Business Bay, Palm Jumeirah
- Ellington PropertiesLuxury & premium · Dubai Hills, Palm Jumeirah, JVC
- AHS PropertiesLuxury & premium · Dubai Water Canal, Palm Jumeirah
- Palma HoldingLuxury & premium · Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Islands
- Seven TidesLuxury & premium · Palm Jumeirah, Business Bay, JLT
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners buy property on Palm Jumeirah?
Yes. Palm Jumeirah is a designated freehold area, so buyers of any nationality, resident or not, can own villas and apartments there with title registered at the Dubai Land Department. Ownership rules come from Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006. Mortgages from UAE banks are available within the Central Bank's loan-to-value limits.
Are there new off-plan projects on Palm Jumeirah?
Yes. Most frond villas and trunk apartments are resale, but new luxury and branded towers continue to launch, particularly on the crescent and the trunk. Developers active on the Palm in our directory include Nakheel, Omniyat, AHS Properties, Palma Holding, Seven Tides and Ellington. Check each launch's DLD registration and escrow before paying.
Who is the master developer of Palm Jumeirah?
Nakheel is the master developer of Palm Jumeirah. It began construction in June 2001, and the first residents moved in during 2007. Nakheel is part of Dubai Holding. Many individual towers and hotels on the island were built by other developers under Nakheel's master plan, and new plots continue to be released.
Get a shortlist for Palm Jumeirah
Tell Tarek your budget, timeline and whether you want to live in the home, rent it out or apply for a Golden Visa. He will send matching launches and ready alternatives with the full cost of each, and check registration and escrow with you before you pay.
Sources
- Timeframe: When construction on Palm Jumeirah began, The National. Checked 30 September 2026.
- Frequently Asked Questions (escrow, registration, brokers, service charges), Dubai Land Department. Checked 30 September 2026.
- Real Estate Project Status service, Dubai Land Department. Checked 30 September 2026.
- Expatriates buying a property in the UAE, UAE Government portal (u.ae). Checked 30 September 2026.