Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah is set to get a brand new beach, park and retail complex stretching a mile along the trunk of the an-made island.

The Palm Promenade is the latest addition to the developer Nakheel’s flagship project and will connect the area’s 30 apartment buildings with Al Ittihad Park and the other retail and dining outlets.

“The Palm Promenade is all about connectivity, walkability and accessibility,” said the Nakheel chairman Ali Rashid Lootah.

“The project promotes a healthy lifestyle and social, environmental and economic sustainability by encouraging people to walk, cycle, meet and socialise, and will boost business in the area with easier access to the ever-expanding range of retail facilities there.” Nakheel has stepped up investment on the island over the past three years with a number of additions that include the Palm Tower and The Pointe retail and entertainment complex.

Under the plans for this latest project, all elements of the Palm Jumeirah trunk will be connected with one another.

The Palm Promenade project also includes upgrades to the design of Palm West Beach, Nakheel’s new park, dining and beach club facility for the island. New features include two children’s fountains, retail facilities and parking for 700 vehicles.

Separately, the developer also unveiled its new Jebel Ali Gardens project yesterday, comprising almost 10,000 apartments in 42 buildings spread across a 5.5 million square foot site.

Jebel Ali Gardens will also include more than 1.1 million square feet of landscaped parks, around one fifth of the site area.

It will also include a 2 km jogging track, swimming pools and other recreational facilities.