Exploring Futuristic Dubai: Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis & Dubai Marina

Our adventure in Dubai continued – as you might have guessed from the previous part (which you can find HERE), our next stop was the legendary man-made peninsula Palm Jumeirah.

We kicked off the morning with a classic breakfast and a quick splash in the hotel pool. Around noon, we set off toward Palm Jumeirah and also the Dubai Marina area. The entire transfer was super smooth – we took the metro to Sobha Realty Metro Station, which is also the transfer point to the tram that runs through Dubai Marina.

The Tram in Dubai Marina

The tram in Dubai Marina runs in a loop, so it doesn’t really matter which direction you board – you’ll either head straight to Palm Jumeirah or, like us, enjoy an unplanned scenic ride around all of Dubai Marina. 😄 If your goal is to get directly to Palm Jumeirah, I recommend getting off at Palm Jumeirah 1 Tram Station and simply following the signs.

They’ll lead you through a parking garage – yes, just like walking through the underground garages in a shopping mall, except here you go a few levels up, not down. Just follow the pedestrian path and directional arrows. At the end of this route awaits a completely different transport experience: the Palm Monorail – a single-track train that runs exclusively along the Palm Island.

This special monorail offers stunning elevated views and takes you right through the center of the island all the way to the Atlantis Hotel. It operates separately from the rest of Dubai’s public transport, so you’ll need a separate ticket. A one-way ride costs around €5–10, but the day pass is worth it if you plan to take more than one trip. You can purchase it at any of the monorail stations.

The Journey to the Palm Observatory

From the starting point of the Palm Monorail – Palm Gateway Station – we hopped on the special monorail and headed towards the observatory, which is actually part of a shopping mall. First, you get off inside the mall itself, and then you take elevators up several floors to reach the observation deck called The View at The Palm. We got off at the very next stop – Nakheel Mall – and, as usual, got a little lost inside at first. But don’t worry – once you find the right exit, the signs will guide you directly to the entrance of the observatory.

We bought our tickets through GetYourGuide, which I highly recommend – quick, online, and stress-free. You’ll enjoy not just the spectacular view of the Palm from above, but also a mini museum showcasing the story behind how this man-made island was built – from nothing, in just five years! Yes, five years and boom – paradise on Earth. And then you remember Slovakia, where the highway from east to west still isn’t finished… Anyway, better to just breathe it in and enjoy the futuristic vibe of Dubai. It truly feels like a place from another world – we were honestly standing there with goosebumps, marveling at this engineering miracle, and I just know I’ll come back one day.

Palm Jumeirah – The Observatory

From the top of the View at The Palm observation deck, located 240 meters above the ground, you’re treated to a stunning 360-degree view of the entire palm-shaped peninsula and the skyline of Dubai Marina. Walking at that height between the skyscrapers makes you feel like you’re in a sci-fi movie. And the best part? At the very top, there’s a café and a souvenir shop, so you can enjoy a coffee while overlooking one of the most ambitious engineering projects in the world.

From up there, you definitely won’t miss the iconic Atlantis The Palm hotel, home to one of the largest water parks in the world – Aquaventure Waterpark. And if you spot something even more luxurious and futuristic nearby – you’re not imagining things. That’s Atlantis The Royal, an ultramodern hotel that opened in 2023 and instantly became a symbol of a new era of Dubai luxury.

Since we had purchased an all-day ticket for the Palm Monorail, we rode it all the way to the very end of the island, to Atlantis The Palm hotel. You can freely enter the hotel lobby, take a walk around the area, browse some luxury shops, or simply relax by the water. And if you want to check out the beach – no problem! You can walk right to the edge of the island, where stone breakwaters protect against the incoming tide. The whole area is open to the public, so you’re free to wander around, take stunning photos, and soak in the one-of-a-kind atmosphere.

Why an island shaped like a palm tree?

Palm Jumeirah isn’t just an island. It’s a dream crafted by human hands, built where just a few decades ago, you’d find nothing but sand and sea. At a time when the world was still recovering from the last millennium, Dubai decided not to wait for the future – but to build it instead. And so, the idea was born – to create a new piece of land right in the sea: an island shaped like a palm tree, a symbol of boldness, vision, and technological wonder.

They built it from sand and rock, from the base all the way to each “leaf” of the palm, without using concrete – and every part of it was measured, shaped, and designed with millimeter precision to withstand both time and nature. It only took five years, but the result amazed the world.

The palm shape was chosen because Dubai wanted more – more beachfront space, more tourists, more possibilities, and most of all, they wanted to prove to the world that nothing is impossible. And they succeeded – today it’s a place where dreams blend with reality, where you can stay in a hotel built on the water, where you walk on a beach that didn’t even exist a short while ago. Pure sci-fi, live. They even created an artificial underwater world to attract marine life.

Unexpected Side-Quest: A Boat Ride

For our lunch break, we stopped at Dubai Marina Mall. On our way in, we noticed lots of promo posters advertising boat tours around the Palm – all the way to the world’s most luxurious hotel, Burj Al Arab, that iconic sail-shaped building you’ve surely seen in photos.

And, of course, as fate would have it, one of those classic street vendors spotted us – the usual drill: “Last seats! Hurry up, come on, now or never!” We had a laugh and tried bargaining a bit. The flyer said the price was 160 AED – about €37 per person. The guy told us that because of rougher seas and bigger waves, they were running a shorter route – which we had actually noticed ourselves earlier near the Atlantis Hotel. That’s why we tried to negotiate the price – we wouldn’t be getting the full package.

In the end, we managed to settle on 220–250 AED for two people, which comes out to roughly €51–58 total.

I’ll share a photo of the brochure below, but later I checked what seems to be the official website – I’ll leave you the link HERE – and of course, the prices there were way better, which surprised me a bit. You can even book a specific time slot and everything directly online.

The boat ride was supposed to go around the entire Palm, past the iconic Atlantis Hotel, and all the way to Burj Al Arab, before heading back along the coast. It was a typical speedboat, so yeah – it was pretty fast, which made it super fun. When we got close to Burj Al Arab, the guide offered to take pictures of each group. You could tell he was a pro – the guy probably takes hundreds of photos like that every day.

A private island? In Dubai? Absolutely.

As we were cruising along on the speedboat – wind in our hair, waves splashing, and views straight out of a documentary about the rich – we suddenly approached a smaller island. The guide casually mentioned that it allegedly belongs to one of the most influential people in the country – someone from the royal family or a high-ranking political figure. The island is completely private, with its own beach, helipad, huge villa, and palm trees that you’d expect to see in the Caribbean.

You can’t get there, and you won’t see many details up close, but just the thought that someone literally owns an islandreally makes you think about what can be built when you’ve got money, vision… and a desert.

Rest day? Yeah, right – not without a twist!

The next day was supposed to be a chill one – finally a bit of downtime. But, as it often happens, even a simple trip to the beach turned into a bit of a drama. I’ll tell you all about it in the next part, because that story definitely deserves its own space (plus a few funny photos to go with it).

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Cross your boundaries – that’s where the treasure you’re seeking is hidden.

Flying Easterner