Dubai Monorail

The Dubai monorail allows people to reach the artificial island of Palm Jumeirah from the city. Like the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower, the Palm Jumeirah is one of the symbols of the extravagance and excess of the emirate of Dubai.

This peninsula, which was artificially designed in the shape of a date palm (the national plant of the United Arab Emirates) is therefore also worth stopping by when you come visit Dubai 🙂 

To help prepare for your stay, in this article I explain how to get there. In any case, it's pretty simple: just take the Dubai Monorail/Palm Jumeirah Monorail, an aerial train that will also offer you a wonderful panorama of Dubai, its coastline and of course the Palm Jumeirah.

WHAT IS THE DUBAI MONORAIL?

The Dubai Monorail is an aerial train that connects the mainland to the island of Palm Jumeirah and crosses it from side to side.

It was built by a Japanese company (Hitachi) to run on a single rail. The line, for which work began in March 2006, was inaugurated on April 30, 2009. 

But the Palm Jumeirah Monorail is much more than just a public transport! It also allows its passengers to follow a road showcasing a wonderful panorama. You'll get a great view of the Marina's skyline as well as incredible sights at every stop: the beautiful villas of Palm Island, private beaches, and at the end of the trip the incredible Atlantis The Palm Hotel.

Taking this scenic route is therefore one of the must-do's during a stay in Dubai.

Some figures to remember:

• The Palm Monorail can carry up to 40,000 people daily and up to 419 visitors at a time. But in the Covid-19 context, the maximum capacity is 200 people.
• The Monorail can reach a maximum speed of 43 mph (70 km/h.)
• The line is 3.4 miles long (5.45 km).
• A whole trip takes about 20 minutes

WHAT CAN YOU SEE OR DO ON PALM JUMEIRAH?

Palm Jumeirah est une île artificielle du Golfe Persique. Elle prend la forme d’un palmier dattier à 17 branches. La presqu’île s’étend sur 5 km.

Si de nombreux résidents de Dubaï et de riches milliardaires étrangers y ont élu domicile, ce sont surtout les attractions qui s’y trouvent qui vous feront faire la traversée avec le Monorail.

Palm Jumeirah is an artificial island situated in the Persian Gulf. It is shaped like a 17-branched date palm and extends over 3 miles (5 km).

On site, you can:

• Enjoy the wonderful beaches of Dubai with their fine sand.
• Enjoy the superb 360° view of the island from the new observation platform "The View Palm Jumeirah". Located near the Nakheel Mall, it is the highest vantage point on the island. After passing a gallery, The View Exhibition, and observing the fish through underwater tunnels, you can access the platform which is 790 feet high (240 meters).
• Book a room or suite at a luxury hotel, including the famous and lavish Atlantis The Palm Hotel.
• Spend a day or more in the largest water park of Dubai, the world-famous Atlantis Aquaventure. The site is associated with the largest aquarium in Dubai: The Lost Chambers Aquarium. In this world fully dedicated to the lost city of Atlantis, you will be able to enjoy an incredible range of water activities: giant slides, wave pools, rides...
• Come up close to dolphins, feed them and even swim with them in the lagoons of Dolphin Bay; and have fun with the sea lions at Sea Lion Point.
• Stroll along The Palm Jumeirah Boardwalk which circles the island, and enjoy the breathtaking views.
• Admire the spectacle of The Palm Fountain, the largest man-made fountain in the world!

HOW TO GET TO THE MONORAIL?

If you've chosen to rent a car in Dubai, there is free parking for over 1,600 cars in front of the Dubai Monorail station.

If not, you can access the first station from the Dubai Tramway.

This is one of the safest and most comfortable streetcars in the world. Just stop at the "Palm Jumeirah" station, then walk about 10 minutes on a footbridge to the first station of the line. You will then have to cross the large parking lot I mentioned a few lines above.

Note that parking at the first station is not free; however, if you take the monorail right after, you can enjoy free parking for 3 hours.

You can also take a cab. It costs about $28 (€25) for a direct trip from downtown Dubai to the Atlantis complex.

HOW MANY STATIONS ARE THERE ON THE PENINSULA?

There are 4 stations, and a 5th will be available soon: 

• Station No.1 "Palm Gateway”

This is the first stop on the line. From there, you will enjoy a spectacular view.

• Station No. 2 "Al Ittihad Park"

Opened on July 3, 2017, the station provides access to a superb attraction: a park housing a variety of plants unique in the emirate.

The place is very popular with Dubai citizens, who like to come here to relax or do some sports. The Al Ittihad Park has a 2 miles long  running track (3.2 km) and a variety of sports equipment.

The station is also directly connected to a shopping mall with various luxury stores, the Golden Mile Galleria.

• Station No. 3 "Nakheel Mall

This station opened its doors in November 2019, along with the mall to which it connects.

There is a wide range of activities and attractions for young and old: shopping in brand-name stores from around the world, cinema, international restaurants, games for children...

• Atlantis Aquaventure Station No.4

When you leave this station, you will find yourself right next to the entrance of the first water park in the Middle East, the Atlantis Aquaventure. You can also check out the marine animals at Dubai's largest aquarium, meet dolphins at Dolphin Bay and sea lions at Sea Lion Point.

Alternatively, you can just go there to enjoy a beautiful walk or bike ride along the shoreline.

• Station No.5, "The Pointe"

This station will be available soon (late 2021 - early 2022). It is located - as its name suggests - at the tip of Palm Jumeirah.

The site will host restaurants, stores and multiple other attractions. There will also be a 1 mile long promenade (1.5 km) from which the view will be just incredible.

WHAT ARE THE OPENING HOURS FOR THE AIR TRAIN?

The first train departs from Palm Gateway Station #1 at 9:00 am, and the last one at 9:45 pm.

The first train departs from Atlantis Station #4 at 9:15 a.m., and the last train departs at 10 p.m.

The same schedule applies every day of the week.

HOW MUCH DOES A TICKET FOR THE DUBAI MONORAIL COST?

Fares vary depending on your destination, but expect to pay between AED 10 (about $2.70 - or €2.45) for a one-way ticket, and AED 15 for a round trip ticket (about $4 - or €3.60). To learn more about Dubai's currency, feel free to check out my article on the subject 🙂

You can buy tickets on the spot in one of the Palm Monorail stations (beware: payment in cash only - no credit card accepted, so remember to go to an ATM before!) or online directly on the official website: https://www.palmmonorail.com/

Please note that the prices are the same online and offline. Here are the different prices in AED :

• From the Palm Gateway Station

• From Al Ittihad Park station

• From Nakheel Mall Station

• From the Atlantis Aquaventure Station

The tickets work with contactless on the terminals located at the entrance/exit of the stations. A beep or a green light will indicate the validity of the trip.

GOOD TO KNOW!

• There is a departure every 15 minutes.
• Children under 3.6 feet travel for free (110 cm).
• Tickets purchased for a particular day must be used on that day.
• You can buy a day pass with unlimited rides for AED 35 or about $9.5 or €8.45 (this option is not available online).
• Payment with the Nol Card (Dubai's public transport card) is not accepted (the Monorail is not run by the city, but by a private company that sets its own fares - the Nakheel company).
• Animals are not allowed inside the cars.
• The Palm Monorail is accessible to handicapped persons and strollers.

And that’s it for this article on the Dubai Monorail! I hope it answered any question you might have had!