Newly Upgraded Dubai Fountain Will Come Back to Life This October

The Dubai Fountain is reactivating on October 1st, ending a months-long pause. Since April, the 30-acre artificial lake at the base of the Burj Khalifa has been drained and stripped bare as crews carried out a sweeping upgrade of one of Dubai’s landmarks.

When the water returns, so will the nightly shows, albeit with a few changes. Emaar says the new version will feature enhanced lighting, improved sound, and choreography powered by robotic technology designed to make the dancing jets sharper and more dramatic. A new concrete base has also been installed to help the structure better handle the wear and tear of constant pressure and movement.

During the closure, long stretches of digital screens were added along the promenade to fill the visual gap left by the missing lake and keep the area from feeling dormant. They’ve been showing animations and light sequences to help draw foot traffic back toward Dubai Mall and Souk Al Bahar. Emaar also waived four months of rent for dozens of restaurants facing the now-empty lake.