Dubai Fountain show: Timings and best viewpoints

The Dubai Fountain show is one of the top attractions in Dubai and a visit should definitely be included in your Dubai itinerary. This captivating spectacle takes place at Burj Lake in Downtown Dubai, at the foot of Burj Khalifa and right next to the Dubai Mall and Souk al Bahar. Since this area is home to so many must-visit Dubai sites, it’s also one of the best places to stay in Dubai.

Discover the magic of the Dubai Fountain show, the timings, and the best viewpoints in this comprehensive guide to the Dubai Fountain.

Dubai Fountain show timings

The Dubai Fountain evening show takes place every 30 minutes from 6 pm to 11 pm daily.

Lunchtime Dubai Fountain shows are planned seasonally (not during Ramadan) and take place at 1 pm and 1.30 pm (1.30 pm and 2 pm on Fridays).

Extra afternoon shows may occur on public holidays.

Each show lasts for about 5 minutes.

We’d strongly recommend watching the spectacle from Sunday to Wednesday because that’s when there’ll be fewer crowds. In the United Arab Emirates, the weekend runs from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening.

About the Dubai fountain

The Dubai Fountain is 275 m (900 ft) in length and its design comprises five circles and two arcs all of which are equipped with the most powerful water jets. These are capable to shoot 22 000 gallons of water up to 150 m (500 ft) high, which compares to about 50 stories. In combination with its state-of-the-art light and sound display, equipped with 6 600 powerful lights and dozens of color projectors, it results in the most captivating spectacle. The dancing fountain of Dubai wows visitors from all over the world with over 1 000 melodies and songs in various styles and each of these musical experiences comes with its own synchronized water and light choreography.

This fabulous Dubai Fountain experience was designed by the same company that created the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas. It was commissioned by the prestigious Emirati real estate development company Emaar Properties, which shaped pretty much the entire Downtown Dubai skyline, including Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall as well as the Address Hotels & Resorts and Vida Hotels & Resorts. The Dubai Fountain was officially opened in May 2009 after an 18-month construction period.

The Dubai Fountain vs The Palm Fountain

The Dubai Fountain is not to be confused with the Palm Fountain, which is located at The Point on Palm Jumeirah. Palm Fountain is the current record holder for the world’s largest performing fountain. Then again, Dubai Fountain, albeit smaller in size, remains the tallest performing fountain. We plan on writing a separate article on The Palm Jumeirah Fountain as well. So, stay tuned.

Best Dubai Fountain show viewpoints

The Dubai Fountain is located on the 30-acre Fountain Lake, between Souk AI Bahar, The Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa, and Burj Park. As a result, it’s often referred to as the Dubai Mall Fountain or Burj Khalifa Fountain.

There are several vantage points around the Burj Khalifa lake, each offering a unique impression of the Dubai Fountain evening shows. Some are free, others involve a fee. Here’s an overview of the different viewpoints.

Waterfront Promenade and Burj Park

The most popular viewpoint is the Waterfront Promenade, which starts at the central exit of Dubai Mall and wraps around the southern base of Burj Khalifa. It’s easy to access, offers a frontal view, and allows you to watch the Dubai Fountain for free. The only downside is that it can get crowded. Have a look at the before and after pictures: the first one was taken right after sunrise, and the second one right after sunset.

It’s not unusual to see the promenade being divided by fences, to separate restaurant guests and passersby from the observers.

East of the lake, the Waterfront Promenade connects to Burj Park. This area tends to be somewhat less crowded but only offers a lateral view. Watching the Dubai Fountain show from Burj Park is also free of charge.

Dubai Fountain Boardwalk

The latest addition to the Dubai Fountain experience is a floating platform on Burj Lake. The Boardwalk offers frontal views of the Dubai Fountain without the crowds. It’s 272 m (892 ft) long and, situated just 9 m (30 ft) from the fountain, it offers front-row seats to the show. 

The entrance to the Boardwalk is located about halfway down the Waterfront Promenade. It opens at 5:45 p.m. which is 15 minutes before the first show. Tickets cost AED 20 per person and can be bought at the entrance or booked in advance (which is strongly recommended if you plan on visiting during the weekend).

We love the Boardwalk experience! You get front-row seats, plenty of space to move around, and a refreshing spray of water now and then. It’s just mesmerizing! We were last there on a Friday evening and while the Waterfront Promenade was packed, we felt like we had the Dubai fountain all to ourselves.

Dubai Fountain lake ride

The first Abra rides depart at 5:45 p.m. which is 15 minutes before the first show. All following departures are planned 15 minutes before the Dubai Fountain times. Tickets cost AED 68.25 per person and should be booked in advance.

Note that these tickets are collected from the Burj Khalifa ticketing counter called At the Top Will Call counter. You’ll find it on the lower ground floor of Dubai Mall, at the lakeside entrance that’s located right next to Burj Khalifa (where Zouzou and Pizza Hut are situated). Do plan enough time to pick up your tickets and then head to the entrance of the Abra rides which is located about halfway down the Waterfront Promenade.

Burj Khalifa observation decks

For an even more exclusive experience, head to one of the observation decks at the top of Burj Khalifa. The world’s tallest building offers two sunset experience options.

At the Top sunset tickets (for levels 124 and 125) are available every day between 4 pm and 6:30 pm. which is perfect to see the first Dubai Fountain show at 6 pm. Sunset tickets to At the Top Burj Khalifa cost 234 AED per adult and 137 AED per child (4 – 12 years). Note that also the GoCity Dubai All-inclusive and GoCity Dubai Explorer passes include access to At the Top levels 124 and 125.

At the Top SKY tickets (for level 148) are available until 6 pm and even include some refreshments. The Dubai Fountains performance soundtrack is played at both observation decks. Sunset tickets to At the Top SKY Burj Khalifa cost 543 AED (the same price applies to both adults and children).

We recommend booking your Burj Khalifa At the Top time slot about 90 minutes before that time. Do try and avoid booking your sunset experience on Friday or Saturday evening for the most comfortable sunset experience.

Dubai Mall restaurants with fountain views

If you’re looking to combine the best of both worlds – the sensory and the culinary – then this option is for you. Various restaurants around Burj Lake offer uninterrupted views of the Dubai Fountain show. Watch the water come to life as you indulge in the most delicious Dubai food or sink your teeth in one of the sumptuous Middle Eastern desserts.

Not all restaurants on our list take bookings for patio seating. So, do your research and try to book a table with the best fountain views. In case the restaurant of your choice doesn’t take reservations for the patio, then you’ll need to arrive early.

Dubai Mall restaurants with fountain views (lateral views):
The views from the Dubai Mall restaurants located on the Lower Ground Floor Boardwalk are often blocked by the flocks of visitors on the Waterfront Promenade. Therefore, we’d recommend choosing one of the restaurants at a higher level.

• Tulum: Mexican-style seafood and more.
• Tribes: African-inspired menu.
• Huqqa: Turkish cuisine and one of the best indoor shisha lounges in Dubai.
• Colt: Equestrian-themed courtyard café.
• Joe’s Café: World cuisine all day long. Their terrace is one of my personal favorites for Dubai Fountain Views and captures the setting perfectly.

Burj Khalifa restaurants with Dubai Fountain views (frontal views):

• At.Mosphere: Located on level 122 for a bird’s eye view over the Dubai Fountain.
• Mediterraneo: Mediterranean cuisine. Located on the lobby floor of the Armani Hotel Dubai.
• Armani/Amal: Indian restaurant. Located on the third floor of the Armani Hotel Dubai.
• Armani/Ristorante: Italian cuisine. Located on the lobby floor of the Armani Hotel Dubai.

Souk al Bahar restaurants with Dubai Fountain views (frontal views):

• Time Out Market Dubai: Food market with a choice of 17 restaurants and a wraparound terrace. Third floor with frontal fountain views.
• Karma Kafé: Lounge bar by Buddha-Bar offering Asian-fusion cuisine. Third floor with lateral views.
• BiCE Mare: Italian seafood restaurant. Third floor with frontal fountain views.
• The Meat Co: African-inspired cuisine. Second floor with lateral views.

Restaurants with Dubai fountain views on the site of the luxurious Palace Downtown hotel:

• Asado: Argentinian cuisine in a South American setting.
• Thiptara: Thai-inspired restaurant that extends right onto the Burj Khalifa fountain show. (This restaurant is currently undergoing refurbishment.)
• Ewaan: Arabic and Oriental buffet and live cooking restaurant.

Dubai hotels with fountain views

A final option to enjoy the fountain views time and time again is by staying in a room that overlooks the Burj Khalifa fountain show. These hotels, all part of Address Hotels & Resorts, offer unrivaled views of the Dubai Fountain. Fountain lovers will agree that they’re worth every penny.

Here’s a selection of hotels with Burj Khalifa views that offer front-row seats to the Dubai Fountain:

And then there’s this amazing apartment, which looks out directly over the Dubai Fountain:

Map of the Dubai Fountain viewpoints

For your convenience, we’ve created a custom map of the fountain and viewpoints as described in this blog post. It’ll help you visualize the site.

Combine your visit with the Burj Khalifa light show

To make your Downtown Dubai experience even more epic, you could combine it with the Burj Khalifa light show. And the best thing is that it takes no effort at all since you’ll already find yourself at the best place to see the Burj Khalifa show.

The Burj Khalifa light show times are from 7.45 pm to 10.45 pm. On weekdays, it takes place every hour and on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday every half hour. The sound and light show at Burj Khalifa is just as mesmerizing as the Dubai Fountain.

More things to do in Downtown Dubai

If you have some time to spare before, after, or in between your visit to the Dubai Fountain, you’ll have an array of things to experience. Here’s an overview of the best attractions in the direct vicinity of the dancing fountain in Dubai:

• Combine your visit with the Burj Khalifa At the Top experience.
• Join in on the icy fun at the Dubai Ice Skating Rink in Dubai Mall.
• Shop for souvenirs at Souk al Bahar… and continue your shopping spree at the Dubai Mall.
• Take your kids to the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo or the Swan boats.

That’s it for this Dubai Fountain guide. Have you been lucky enough to experience this captivating spectacle for yourself? Or perhaps you have a visit coming up? We can’t wait to find out!