The Dubai Fountain is a water show supported by lights and music in downtown Dubai. The fountain in Burj Lake is the most powerful in the world and spins up to 100,000 liters of water to a height of up to 150 meters at once.
Getting to Dubai Fountain
The Dubai Fountain is located in Downtown Dubai; more precisely in Burj Lake, directly between the Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa.
The most comfortable way to get there is using a cab. Thanks to low oil prices in the Emirates, you will pay $5-15 for the ride, depending on your starting point.
In comparison, a ride on the Dubai Metro wil cost you a maximum of $2 per person. You have to get off at the Dubai Mall metro station. From here, it’s about a 15-minute walk to the fountains, part of which takes you through the Dubai Mall. Follow the signs in the mall to get to the fountains. Otherwise, you will quickly get lost in the huge mall. When you finally find your way out, you look directly at Burj Lake from the Dubai Mall.
Timetable of the water show
There are 13 fountain shows daily, 2 during the day and 11 in the evening. Each show lasts 4-5 minutes, depending on the length of the music piece. Timetable with the exact times:
| 2 shows at noon | 11 evening shows | |
| Friday | 13:30 and 14 p.m. | Every 30 minutes from 6 to 11 p.m. |
| Saturday - Thursday | 13:00 and 13:30 p.m. | Every 30 minutes from 6 to 11 p.m. |
Dubai Fountain music selection
The music selction is a wild mix of Arabic, Western and classical tunes and varies constantly, making multiple visits worthwhile.
An example of some popular Western songs includes Skyfall, Thriller and Time to say goodbye. The exact order of events will not be announced beforehand. So you will have to be surprised on the spot.
The best view of the fountains
The Dubai Fountain is an extremely popular attraction – both among tourists and locals. That’s why the battle for the best view can become quite intense. But fortunately, there are some alternatives to enjoy the show in the best possible way.
The best time for Dubai Fountain
In the evening, the fountain show is generally very well attended, but especially on Fridays and Saturdays. Therefore, the other days are preferable for a visit.
The two shows in the midday hours, on the other hand, hardly seem to interest anyone. You almost get the feeling of a private session. For those who can’t stand large crowds, this is a good fallback option.
Promenade along the shore of Burj Lake
A promenade leads around the entire Burj Lake. From my experience, most visitors hang out near the Dubai Mall and Souk al Bahar. Hence, it is much easier to find a good spot on the Burj Khalifa side. So it’s worth it to walk the extra meters and stand right in front of the Burj Khalifa. Early arrival is also helpful to enjoy a good view.
Restaurants with a view of the Dubai Fountain
A really cozy alternative to watch the water fountain is to do so enjoying delicious food from a restaurant. Whether it’s from Dubai Mall, Souk al Bahar, or maybe even Burj Khalifa, there are plenty of places that offer a terrace overlooking the fountains.
Dubai Fountain Lake Ride
It’s hard to get any closer to the fountains than during a trip across Burj Lake in a traditional abra wooden boat. During the 30-minute ride on the small boat, you will experience the fountain show in the front row – obstacle-free view guaranteed. Tickets are available for about $18 per person at Get your Guide or for $16 on the official website.
Dubai Fountain Boardwalk
Another great alternative is the Dubai Fountain Boardwalk. This is a floating platform on Burj Lake that invites you to take an extended walk. The 272-meter platform brings visitors up to 9 meters close to the fountains. The fact that you can get wet out there should definitely be taken into account. Admission to the platform costs 30 AED (about $8) and tickets can be purchased in advance here.
Burj Khalifa At the Top
The fifth opportunity to view the Dubai Fountains is from the 123rd floor – from inside of the Burj Khalifa. Whether you choose to visit the At.mosphere Lounge or the At the Top observation deck. From a height of over 400 meters, you can no longer see much of the fountains. It glows and sparkles beautifully in the evening, but the view of the fountains from above is half as impressive.
Planning the day around the Dubai Fountain
The Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and Souk al Bahar surround the Dubai Fountain. That is why visiting these attractions within a day is a good idea.
In the morning, you can stroll through the Dubai Mall and, if necessary, visit the Dubai Aquarium located inside. After a refreshment, you can go up to the Burj Khalifa in the afternoon. From a height of over 400 meters, the view of Dubai’s skyscrapers is simply breathtaking.
Back down again, you can take a short walk through the Arabic-influenced Souk al Bahar.
Finally, beginning at 6 p.m., you can enjoy the magnificent water show – perhaps even from the terrace of a restaurant. A day full of unforgettable impressions!
If you want to plan your day similarly, I recommend the combination ticket for the At the Top observation deck and the Dubai Aquarium. Compared to buying tickets individually, you will save about $13 per person with the combined ticket. An exceptionally good deal with only one restriction: The observation deck and the Dubai Aquarium must be visited on the same day. However, as already described, this should not be a problem.
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