There are many music fountains in the UAE. However, none are like the Dubai Fountain. The UAE has a unique romance with water in general, and you will find many squares where water is an essential element of landscaping. This love for water has inspired Emaar to build something massive, innovative, and inspiring that would complement the world’s most enormous Mall and the world’s tallest Tower. That is how the Dubai Fountain happened.
Dubai Fountain is among the most loved, visited, and beautiful “watermarks” globally. With a backdrop of Burj Khalifa, this fountain system is located on the humanmade Burj Khalifa Lake that expands to 2 hectares (30 acres) at the center of Dubai’s Downtown master development.
The making of the Dubai Fountain
A California company, WET Design, was commissioned by Burj Khalifa developer Emaar Properties to design and build this great lake with a fountain system. Interestingly, the company had previously designed and built the fountains at the Bellagio Hotel Lake in Las Vegas.
Six thousand six hundred lights and 50 colored projectors illuminate Dubai Fountain, which is 275 m (902 ft) long. The giant fountains shoot water up to 500 ft (152.4 m) into the air. The fountain system sways to a range of classical to contemporary Arabic and world music.
The fountain system at Burj Khalifa was built for AED 800 million (USD 218 million).
The master developer ran a competition in 2008 in the UAE to name the fountain that would be part of the humanmade lake built between Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall. Thus, Emaar chose the name Dubai Fountain, which was approved by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates prime minister.
Dubai Fountain was officially opened on May 8, 2009, when the Dubai Mall was opened.
The Dubai Mall fountain, as it is also known, consists of five circles and two arcs in which the waterjets are organized. In 2010, an element of fire was added as part of the 2011 New Year celebration but later discontinued.
The central light beam of the Dubai Fountain can be seen from 20 miles away.
Dubai Fountain Show
The Dubai Fountain show started on May 8, 2009, and since then, it has swayed to hundreds of set pieces in front of millions of adoring fans who throng every day and wait with bated breath on the banks of the lake. The mesmerizing show happens once every hour and lasts 30 minutes.
There is a general show every day and unique shows on certain occasions. These occasions have both music and lighting related to a particular theme. Emaar, the master developer of Dubai Fountain, decides and directs Wet Design to do special shows. The most popular are UAE National Day, December 31, Eid Al Adha, etc.
Dubai Mall Fountain boasts a lake ride that offers an intimate, personal experience during showtime. The experience can be described as “Magical”! The fountain at Burj Khalifa adds a different musical, harmonic aesthetic, illuminated, and supercharged dimension.
The magical fountain of Dubai Mall lacks any superlatives. The Burj Khalifa Fountain is the world’s most extensive choreographed fountain system ever made by man.
Dubai Fountain is an art installation with 22,000 gallons of water, 6,600 lights, and 50 colored projectors. It moves and dances to the choreographer’s music. The shot-up water comes down, creating another dimension of sound and music.
The Dubai Fountain show starts with a tribute to Sheikh Muhammed, then slowly picks up the tempo along with the music. From initial tiny droplets to a blast of water jetting up into the sky to the oohs-aahs of approving visitors, who enjoy every sway of the fountain.
Best place to watch the Dubai Fountain Show
Dubai Mall visitors can see the Dubai Fountain show from inside the mall. The blast of released water creates a massive aura of mist and droplets, giving the fountain a rainbow edge.
The musical fountain show is free to watch and can be seen from many places Downtown. However, the best vantage is possible from the Dubai Mall Promenade (outside the Mall). As this area becomes crowded just before the Dubai Fountain show starts, it is advisable to be there much before and book yourself a free ‘best-for-selfie’ spot. It is advisable to arrive at least 30 minutes before the show starts to catch the fountain, music, and aura around it without being pushed around by the crowd.
However, the Souk Al Bahar walkway is usually less congested and offers a better viewing experience.
A paid option is also available for those who want a more intimate experience. For Aed 20/=, you can get onto the Dubai Fountain Boardwalk, a floating viewing ramp built over the lake that takes you almost 10 meters to the Musical Fountain in Dubai.
For those who like to enjoy this art by water, on water, or from water, you may take Abra, which would cost you around AED68.25 (when writing this piece on Dubai Fountain). The Abra ride on the canal starts before the start of the Dubai Fountain, and it gives you an immersive experience.
Another way to watch the Dubai Fountain is to book a table for yourself and your friends/ family in a fine-dining restaurant that lines the fountain and inside the Dubai Mall. You will have an undisturbed and clear view.
Restaurants near Dubai Fountain
- Dubai Mall – Wafi Gourmet, TGI Fridays, Joe’s Café, Carluccio, Texas Roadhouse, Entrecote café de Paris, Tribes Carnivore
- Taj, Dubai (5 start hotel) near Dubai Fountain – Bombay Brasserie and Miss Tess
- Souk Al Bahar – Bice Mare, Baker and Spice, and Claw
- Steigenberger Hotel – Bayside Restaurant and Terrace, Backyard (A street Art inspired Café)
- The Min Leaf of London – Indian fusion food, 15th Floor on South Tower-DIFC offers a fantastic view of Dubai Fountain from its floor-to-ceiling windows.
- Al Grissino: The bar of Al Grissino, located on the 15th floor of the South Tower, DIFC, offers excellent views of the Dubai Fountain.
- Palace Downtown: Asedo, Ewaan, and Thipatra
- Burj Al Khalifa: At.mosphere is located at 122 level, giving you a once-a-lifetime experience
If you are lucky enough to have one facing the Dubai Fountain, many 5-star hotels have fantastic views.
Hotels near Dubai Fountain
- Roda Al Murooj
- The Address, Dubai Mall
- Ramada Downtown
- The Palace Downtown
- Damac Maison Mall
- Taj Dubai
- Steigenberger Hotel
- Armani Hotel
- Manzil Hotel, Downtown
- Rove Downtown Dubai
- DoubleTree by Hilton
Apart from these, there are scores of hotels located Downtown or on Sheikh Zayed Road, from where you can reach Dubai Fountain in no time. These include Dusit Thani,
Dubai Fountain Show Timings
Dubai Fountain, the world’s largest choreographed fountain, is open daily, and the show begins in the afternoon. Then there are evening shows also. They are as follows;
- Saturday to Thursday – 1:00 PM and 1:30 PM
- Friday afternoon shows 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM.
Evening Shows start at 6:00 PM and continue up to 11:00 PM. There is one show every 30 minutes.
During the Eid celebrations, the Dubai Fountain shows up at 2 PM. During this period, the other timings are the 1st and 2nd Day of Eid Al Adha: Afternoon Shows: 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, and 5:00 PM (one show every hour). • Evening shows for the Dubai Fountain are from 6:00 PM until 12:00 midnight (shows every 30 mins). On Arafat Day: 7:30 PM until 11:00 PM (shows every 30 mins).
How to get there
The world’s most extensive human-made Fountain system is located in Downtown Dubai. Getting to Dubai Fountain is very easy. There is a Red Line Metro that you may board and get down at the “Dubai Mall” Metro station. From there, you may take a brisk walk through the Skywalk (the Overhead ramp that links Dubai Mall to Dubai Metro Station), which would take 15 minutes to reach.
Instead of walking, you may take F13 from the metro station to Dubai Fountain in a five-minute flat. The whole walking area is live with many kiosks, etc. Bus No. X22 will take you from the Business Bay metro station to Dubai Fountain in seven minutes.
You may flag down a taxi and reach Dubai Fountain from anywhere in Dubai.
Several tour operators offer special tours to Downtown and Dubai City. They ensure you reach the Dubai Fountain in time to see the spectacle.