The Dubai Fountain is truly spectacular. Its water jets shoot up to 500 feet in the air - that's as tall as a 50-story building. This amazing display stands out as one of the most incredible water shows that ever spread across the world. The same company that created the famous Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas designed this masterpiece, which now holds the title of world's largest choreographed fountain system.
A Dubai Fountain Lake Ride offers a unique view of this engineering marvel. You'll want to add this to your Downtown Dubai experience. Most people don't know about the fountain's impressive technical features. It boasts over 6,600 lights and 25 colored projectors that create stunning displays synchronized to 48 different musical pieces.
The fountain will undergo major changes soon. Anyone planning a Dubai tour after April 2025 should note the five-month renovation starting May 2025. The attraction will stay closed until October 2025. These updates will improve the technology, choreography, and lighting systems to create an even more amazing show.
Let me share some insider tips about the Dubai Fountain in this piece. You'll discover hidden secrets most visitors miss, find the best viewing spots not mentioned in regular tourist guides, and learn everything about the upcoming 2025 Dubai Travel Guide.
The Dubai Fountain stands proudly in Downtown Dubai and attracts visitors from every corner of the world. This amazing water display gives free shows throughout the day and night. You should definitely add it to your Dubai trip plans.
Each show runs for about 5 minutes, but you'll remember it for years to come. The fountain follows a regular schedule that makes planning easy:
The evening shows are simply magical as water dances against the lit-up Burj Khalifa backdrop. The music keeps changing throughout the day - you'll hear everything from classical pieces to modern Arabic songs.
Most people head to the Waterfront Promenade outside Dubai Mall. This spot gets pretty packed during evening shows. My tip? Get there 15 minutes early to grab a good spot by the railings.
The walkway around Souk Al Bahar offers great views with nowhere near as many people. The bridge between Dubai Mall and Souk Al Bahar gives you another great spot to watch the show without pushing through crowds.
The Dubai Fountain Lake Ride on a traditional abra (wooden boat) costs AED 73.25 with booking fee and VAT. Boats leave every 30 minutes from 5:45 PM until 11:30 PM.
The ride is worth every dirham. You get a 20-25 minute trip with clear views away from the crowds. The boat takes you around Burj Khalifa Lake, where you can see Downtown Dubai's panorama before stopping to watch the fountain show from the water.
Visitors call this front-row experience a great investment. Each boat takes about eight people, so you share your exceptional Dubai trip with others while getting an intimate point of view of the show.
The Dubai Fountain attracts huge crowds at its main viewing spots. But there's a hidden world of quiet vantage points that give you amazing views without the packed masses of tourists.
You can still find peaceful spots to enjoy this spectacular show, even with its massive popularity. The walkway near Souk Al Bahar stays surprisingly empty compared to the main promenade. Dandy Line Park right across from Dubai Mall, stands out as a prime spot. You'll get to watch the show in peace while soaking in the park's atmosphere.
The Time Out Market's terrace inside Souk Al Bahar gives you another great escape to watch the fountains. Many professional photographers head to hidden rooftop spots that let them capture creative shots with the fountains in the background.
Dubai Mall's Apple Store has an amazing terrace that looks over Burj Lake, but most visitors miss it completely. The store's 37.5-foot-high motorized "Solar Wings" adjust to weather conditions and give you a perfect view of the choreographed fountain show. The store stays open until midnight, which makes it great for catching late shows. This spot has gotten more popular lately, but coming early will get you a great spot above the crowds.
The bridge between Dubai Mall and Souk Al Bahar gives you panoramic views that most people don't know about. Skip the crowded promenade and head to this raised walkway where photographers gather to capture the shows every half hour. You'll get clear shots of both the fountains and Burj Khalifa in the background—it's a photographer's dream spot.
The fountain shows rotate through 40 different songs, each with its own unique choreography. Staying for several shows lets you experience completely different performances. Shows start at 1:00 PM and run every 30 minutes during the day. Evening performances kick off at 6:00 PM and continue until 11:00 PM. The night shows are truly magical, with illuminated water dancing against the dark sky.
The Dubai Fountain stands as a breathtaking water spectacle that combines amazing engineering with artistic brilliance. Let's explore the technical magic that brings this magnificent attraction to life.
WET Design emerged in 1983 when former Disney Imagineers Mark Fuller, Melanie Simon, and Alan Robinson started their journey. Their company has created more than 200 water features of all sizes worldwide. Emaar Properties chose them because of their expertise in fountain technology. The team had already created the famous Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas, which explains why both attractions look so similar.
Mark Fuller, WET's president, starts with conceptual sketches and models before diving into what he calls "hardcore engineering". The beauty we see above hides massive control rooms beneath the 30-acre Burj Khalifa Lake. These rooms house technology worth millions of dollars.
The Dubai Fountain uses several specialized water jets that WET developed:
These advanced jets create a distinctive "boom" sound when they activate. The fountain shows are spectacular, sending 22,000 gallons of water into the air at once.
Peter Kopik leads the choreography at WET Design. He tackles the complex task of selecting music and coordinating the fountain's movements. His team must understand cultural differences in musical interpretation. Arabic music, to name just one example, emphasizes downbeats rather than upbeats.
WET and Emaar Properties work together by sharing ideas for music selection. The fountain now features 48 different musical pieces from various genres. Each new choreography takes two to four weeks to complete.
WET's choreographers reflect Islamic geometric patterns in their fountain designs. They ensure each performance maintains the fountain's "dignity" as Dubai's iconic attraction.
Dubai Fountain has delighted millions of visitors for almost a decade and now it's getting its biggest renovation yet in 2025. This iconic water show will pause its performances for the first time since it opened to make way for major technological improvements.
The Dubai Fountain will close completely from May through September 2025. The fountain's aging infrastructure needs detailed upgrades, which led to this first-ever closure. The maintenance teams will drain the 30-acre Burj Lake to work on the underwater equipment. The whole promenade area will be blocked off to keep visitors safe during this complex renovation work.
New state-of-the-art LED technology will replace the current lighting setup. These new lights will use less energy and give better brightness and color options. The sound system will also get a complete makeover with directional speakers that create an immersive experience whatever spot you choose to watch from. These changes will help Dubai Fountain stay the world's most spectacular water show.
Visitors can watch a virtual fountain show on new digital screens around Dubai Mall while the fountain is closed. The mall's Grand Atrium will host a special exhibition showing renovation footage among other historical displays about the fountain. Emaar is also offering cheaper rates on other Downtown Dubai attractions to make up for the fountain's closure.
The fountain will reopen in October 2025, right when Dubai's peak tourism season begins. Visitors will see brand new choreographies that feature regional and international music never used before. The Dubai Fountain Lake Ride will start again with new routes that let boats get closer to certain water features than ever before. These upgrades will keep this beloved attraction running smoothly for another decade of amazing performances.
The Dubai Fountain shows what humans can achieve through creativity and engineering excellence. This piece reveals the hidden gems and technical marvels that make this attraction special. Most people see only its surface beauty, unaware of the complex systems at work under the water.
I've seen the Dubai Fountain many times, and smart planning makes a huge difference to your trip to Dubai. The Apple Store terrace and Lake Ride each give you a different way to see the show. You'll see completely different performances and hear new music if you stay for several shows.
The 2025 renovation creates some urgency to see the current setup. Some travelers might feel let down by the temporary closures, but the advanced technology and new shows coming in October 2025 will take this spectacular attraction to new levels.
New visitors don't expect how moving it is to watch water dance to music with Dubai's iconic skyline behind it. Advanced robotics, precise choreography, and powerful water jets work together to create something you won't see anywhere else in the world.
The fountain shows are free to watch, but experiences like the Lake Ride are worth every penny you'll spend. Millions of people have enjoyed the Dubai Fountain since it opened. After these renovations, it will stay a must-see spot for UAE visitors.
Next time you're in Downtown Dubai, try looking beyond the usual spots. The real magic of the Dubai Fountain comes alive when you find your own special spot to watch this engineering marvel that keeps challenging what we think is possible.
The Dubai Fountain performs daily, with afternoon shows at 1:00 PM and 1:30 PM (2:00 PM and 2:30 PM on Fridays) and evening shows every 30 minutes from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
Watching the Dubai Fountain show from the surrounding areas is completely free. However, for a more immersive experience, you can take the Dubai Fountain Lake Ride for a fee of AED 73.25.
While the Waterfront Promenade is popular, less crowded spots include the walkway around Souk Al Bahar, the bridge connecting Dubai Mall to Souk Al Bahar, and the Apple Store terrace in Dubai Mall.
Each Dubai Fountain performance lasts approximately 5 minutes, featuring choreographed water displays synchronized to music.
Yes, the Dubai Fountain will be closed for renovations from May to September 2025. The upgrades will include new lighting and sound systems, with a grand reopening scheduled for October 2025.