Dubai: Palm Jumeirah, Frame & Marina Small Group Tour

4.57

(196 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

We were already halfway up the elevator in The View at The Palm when I realized I’d barely blinked since stepping inside. Our guide, Samir, pointed out the islands’ shape through the glass — it’s weirdly mesmerizing from above, like someone doodled a palm tree on blue paper and then just… built it. There was a faint smell of new carpet and everyone went quiet for a second, even the kids. I tried to take a photo but honestly, it doesn’t really capture how strange and huge it all feels. You just have to stand there for a minute and let it sink in.

The monorail ride across Palm Jumeirah was next — you get these quick flashes of water and then Atlantis pops up like something out of a movie. I didn’t expect the Lost Chambers Aquarium to be so peaceful; there’s this blue glow everywhere and even though people are taking selfies you can still hear the water moving behind the glass. Samir told us about some local legends tied to Atlantis (he swears his uncle saw something “unexplainable” once — who knows). After that we headed for Dubai Marina and Bluewaters Island. It’s loud down by the yachts: engines rumbling, people laughing in half a dozen languages, wind tugging at your shirt. I think I could’ve watched those boats all afternoon.

Somewhere between the art avenue (which is massive — I lost count of how many galleries) and standing under Burj Khalifa trying not to get run over by someone’s selfie stick, I started to feel like Dubai is two cities at once. Old and new smashed together. Our group wandered through Dubai Mall — ice rink on one side, waterfall on the other — and then outside for the fountain show. The music echoed off the buildings and for a second everyone just stopped talking. It’s funny how you can be surrounded by so much noise but still find these little pockets of quiet wonder.