Jumeirah (Arabic: جميرا) is a coastal residential area in Dubai, United Arab Emirates mainly comprising low rise private dwellings. It has both expensive and large detached properties as well as more modest town houses built in a variety of architectural styles. The area is popular with expatriates working in the emirate and is familiar to many tourists visiting Dubai.
The beachfront area was previously called Chicago Beach[2], as the site of the former Chicago Beach Hotel[3]. The locale's peculiar name had its origins in the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company which at one time welded giant floating oil storage tankers on the site[2].
The old name persisted for a time after the old Hotel was demolished in 1997 since Dubai Chicago Beach Hotel was the Public Project Name for the construction phase of the Burj Al Arab Hotel until Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced the new name[4].
Historically, Arabs living in the Jumeirah were fishermen, pearl divers and traders. In modern times (1960 onwards) Jumeirah was the principal area for western expatriate residences, but the huge expansion of the emirate since 1995 has seen a growth in housing developments across Dubai. Jumeirah is generally agreed to be one of the most exclusive parts of Dubai and this has led to the use of the Jumeirah name as a brand which signifies exclusivity (e.g. the “Jumeirah Beach Hotel” and the “Jumeirah Beach Club”). The ruling family of Dubai have called their upmarket hotel chain "Jumeirah" (formerly "Jumeirah International").
There has been a great deal of hotel and leisure construction along Jumeirah Beach including the world famous Burj Al Arab hotel.
Jumeirah has a mosque, the Jumeirah Mosque, which is open to non-Muslims for special tours to give insights into Islam.
Recently, a complex named Madinat Jumeirah, or "Jumeirah City," opened. It consists of an architecturally interesting shopping mall, three luxurious five-star hotels (Mina A'Salam, Al Qasr and Dar Al Masyaf), and a few residential areas. It is advertised to be the "epitome of Arabian hospitality in Dubai".
Although there is competition from many new areas, and although many of Jumeirah's well-to-do have already moved to some of those areas, such as Dubai Marina, the new Palm Islands, The Lakes, The Springs and The Meadows, Jumeirah is still one of the more expensive and exclusive areas in Dubai. The 2009 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup was held on the beaches in Jumeirah.
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