Dubai route: Burj Khalifa to Palm Jumeirah, 17.4 km
Explore Dubai's iconic landmarks along a 17.4 km route connecting Downtown Dubai's Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, through Business Bay, to the exclusive Palm Jumeirah. This scenic drive covers the city's most recognized attractions in approximately 14 minutes.
- Distance
- 17.4 km
- Duration
- 3 h 29 min
- Mode
- route
- Start
- Downtown Dubai: Burj Khalifa & Dubai Mall
- End
- Palm Jumeirah
- Stops
- 3
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Downtown Dubai: Burj Khalifa & Dubai Mall — Famous area featuring Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall with fountainscapes.
- Business Bay — Upscale neighborhood adjacent to downtown Dubai.
- Palm Jumeirah — Man-made island shaped like a palm tree with luxury high-rises and coastline.
Useful for your trip
- Where to stay
- Dubai Hills is centrally located between airport, downtown, and JBR Marina area with parks nearby. Good for medium to long-term stays and as a base to explore the city.
- Where to stay
- Downtown Dubai and Business Bay have excellent food scenes but come with high price tags. JBR and Dubai Marina are coastal alternatives 30 minutes away by metro or car.
- Transport
- Metro from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to downtown costs about $2. Alternatively, rent a car for around $25/day for flexibility, as most places have free parking.
- Transport
- Everything in Dubai is far apart—walking is not practical. Use taxis, Ubers, or rent a car. Metro has limited connection points.
- Tip
- Visit Burj Khalifa's 'At the Top' observatory for $60/person, or book Atmosphere Restaurant for $60-100 where you can use the cost as dining credit and get similar heights.
- Food
- Visit Dubai Mall for more than shopping: full-size ice rink, massive aquarium, dinosaur exhibits, luxury movie theater with food service to loungers.
- Save money
- Book desert experiences through Groupon for $25-50 instead of premium operators, though quality may vary.
- Food
- Cross Dubai Creek via Abra water taxi for 30 cents to reach the Old City, Gold Souk, and Spice Souk with traditional Middle Eastern markets and local shopping.
- Tip
- Take a hot air balloon ride over the desert with Balloon Adventures to see giraffes and manicured gardens on royal family land. Includes breakfast after landing.
- Avoid
- Palm Jumeirah is remote and takes surprisingly long to enter and exit despite appearing smaller from above. Consider it a day visit rather than a base.
- Tip
- Day trip to Mleiha in Sharjah offers stargazing for $25 and desert dune tours for $50/hour. Located 30 minutes from buried village with cliff and sand dunes.
- Timing
- Fountain shows run at 6pm and every 30 minutes until 11pm at Downtown Dubai. Not worth traveling specifically for but worth watching if already in the mall.
Video on this route
HOW TO TRAVEL DUBAI - 5 Perfect Days in the Desert