Seven places in the UAE to find spectacular fountain displays
The last show at the Palm Fountain on The Pointe took place in Dubai at the weekend. The Guinness World Record-breaking fountain, which opened in October 2020, closed on Monday.
“After careful consideration and planning, The Fountain at The Pointe is closing on Monday, May 15,” a representative for Nakheel told The National.
“We will update you with further information in due course. Nakheel remains committed to providing the best experiences possible to citizens, residents and visitors of Dubai.”
The Palm Fountain featured 128 super shooters, 3,000 LED lights that changed colour as the fountains danced to music, and was capable of firing water more than 100 metres into the air. While it may have been the biggest fountain in the UAE, it’s certainly not the only one.
Here are seven other places in the country to watch a dancing fountain show.
The Dubai Fountain
In the centre of Downtown Dubai, you’ll find the UAE’s most famous water show – the Dubai Fountain. Positioned in the centre of Burj Lake, at the foot of Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Fountain puts on nightly shows at half-hour intervals that attract thousands of spectators. With 6,600 lights and jets capable of shooting water up to 152 metres in the air, it makes for an impressive show – no matter how many times you’ve seen it.
Atlantis The Royal, Dubai
When it opened its doors this year, the luxury hotel Atlantis The Royal wowed the world with its ambitious design elements, which through a mix of sculptures, fountains and installations, pay tribute to the power of water.
At the centre of this is Skyblaze, a 28-metre fire and water fountain that encapsulates myriad water forms, fire bursts, lights and music each night.
Imagine, Dubai Festival City Mall
Dubai Festival City Mall’s Imagine Show, which takes place in Festival City Bay, is a multi-sensory experience that combines lasers, lights and flames all working in time with music. Through lasers, Imagine projects images and stories on to the water fountains, and often lights up to the backdrop of firework displays on special occasions imncluding Eid Al Fitr and National Day.
The shows take place each night from 7pm.
Al Majaz Waterfront, Sharjah
At Sharjah’s Al Majaz Waterfront, a nightly schedule of fountain shows follow themes including poetry, music and heritage. Taking place at 30-minute intervals from 6.30pm onwards, the colourful show is set against the city’s skyline and can also be watched from the deck of abras and dhows floating on the waterfront.
Marina Walk, Dubai
Located on the 7km pedestrianised Marina Walk is the Marina Dancing Fountain by Emaar. While it may be smaller than others, the fountain still offers an impressive and colourful display that lights up in time to music each night.
Taking place at 20-minute intervals between 6pm and 10pm, you can find the fountain between Starbucks and NRG gym.
Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi
Yas Marina’s fountain is a family favourite, where children often gather to run between the plumes of water that shoot from the ground during the day. At night, the fountain lights up in time to music to create a spectacle enjoyed by parents and children.
Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi
Several restaurants at Yas Mall offer al fresco dining overlooking The Fountains, which light up throughout the day to entertain shoppers. However, the shows between noon and 2pm, and 6pm and 10pm each day, are choreographed to light and music, making it the best time to stop by.