Palm Monorail
| Company type | Public transit |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | April 30, 2009 |
| Headquarters | Dubai , United Arab Emirates |
Area served | Palm Jumeirah, Dubai mainland |
Key people | Serco (operator) |
| Products | Automated monorail transit service |
The Palm Monorail is an automated monorail system located on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, managed by the UK-based company Serco. It serves as a transit link between Palm Jumeirah and the Dubai mainland, with future plans to connect to the Red Line of the Dubai Metro. Officially inaugurated on 30 April 2009 under the name Palm Jumeirah Monorail, it holds the distinction of being the first monorail system established in the Middle East.
The route extends from Gateway Station to Atlantis Aquaventure, including stops at Al Ittihad Park and Nakheel Mall stations. The trains operate without drivers, though attendants are present onboard to handle any emergencies.
History
Construction commenced in March 2006, overseen by Marubeni Corporation, with track completion achieved by July 2008 and vehicle trials beginning in November 2008. Although originally scheduled for a December 2008 opening, the launch was postponed until 30 April 2009. In 2010, operational responsibilities were transferred to British firm Serco.
The initial project cost was estimated at US$400 million, with an extra US$190 million earmarked for a prospective extension linking to the Dubai Metro; alternative reports suggest an overall budget of US$1.1 billion. Ticket prices are set at Dhs20 for a single journey and Dhs30 for a return trip.
Al Ittihad Park station, which was initially intended to serve the now-cancelled Trump International Hotel and Tower, opened its doors on 3 July 2017. Subsequently, the Nakheel Mall station became operational on 28 November 2019.
Technology
The Palm Monorail utilizes Hitachi Monorail straddle-beam technology, featuring electro-mechanical components developed collaboratively by ETA-Dubai and Hitachi-Japan. The electronic systems onboard are provided by Omron Electronics and incorporate smart card technology for passenger access and control.
Ridership
Each train car offers seating for 70 passengers and standing room for up to 232 individuals, allowing a total capacity of 302 per train. The system is designed to handle up to 40,000 passengers daily, with peak service intervals occurring every few minutes and off-peak frequencies ranging from 15 to 20 minutes. However, initial ridership figures averaged around just 600 passengers per day, resulting in many trains operating with low occupancy. By July 2017, service intervals were adjusted to every 11 minutes, with daily ridership increasing to approximately 3,000 passengers.
Stations
- Atlantis Aquaventure station — located at Atlantis, The Palm
- The Pointe station — closed since July 2023 due to redevelopment works
- Nakheel Mall station
- Al Ittihad Park station — previously known as Trump Plaza and Village Center Station
- Palm Gateway station — situated within Gateway Towers; offers an out-of-station interchange with the Dubai Tram at Palm Jumeirah station and provides parking facilities exceeding 1,600 spaces
- Future extension
- Red Line — a planned connection to the Dubai Metro network; currently, the closest metro access point is Dubai Internet City station on the Red Line.