The Dubai Fountain, one of the world’s most iconic and visited attractions, has been out of action since April 2025. Visitors to the Dubai Mall Waterfront Promenade may have noticed its absence, but it’s for a good reason. The fountain is currently undergoing a five-month-long renovation, aimed at upgrading everything from its flooring to its choreography systems. This temporary pause in operations was confirmed by Emaar, the developer behind the landmark, who shared a detailed behind-the-scenes video on Instagram. The sneak peek reveals the enormous effort underway to preserve and improve the performance and aesthetic of what remains the world’s largest choreographed fountain system.
What’s Changing Under the Surface
According to the video posted by Emaar, one of the main upgrades is the installation of a brand-new flooring system. The previous surface was prone to occasional cracking, which made routine maintenance both necessary and disruptive. The new flooring addresses these challenges with a more durable and visually striking design. Key upgrades include:
- A waterproofing layer placed over specially treated concrete blocks
- A primer and insulation system to help with water retention
- Glowing blue tiles visible beneath the water from all angles around the lake
These aren’t just aesthetic upgrades, they are designed to ensure longer-lasting performance and improved ease of maintenance.
The Fountain’s Massive Scale and Technology
To understand the scale of the task, it helps to consider the size of the fountain lake itself, it spans an area equal to 18 football fields. Beneath the still surface lies a sophisticated network of:
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Water jets - Robotic arms
- Synchronised lighting systems
These elements are meticulously programmed to move in perfect harmony with music. Emaar’s engineering team shared that programming a single song for the fountain show can take several weeks, involving multiple types of robotic systems:
- Choreography bots to coordinate the water’s movement
- Lighting bots to match visual effects with the music
- Fixed water jets that spray in rhythm with the beats
Renovation in Action
Currently, hundreds of workers are involved in the renovation effort, working both in and around the 1.3-metre-deep lake. Though relatively shallow, the water is deep enough to house the powerful jets and robots that give the fountain its signature performance. For cleaning, underwater robots have been deployed. These machines keep the lakebed clean and make use of the newly installed soft flooring, which allows for quicker and more efficient cleaning. Water quality checks are also being conducted regularly, with samples taken from various points across the lake to ensure high standards are maintained.
Entertainment Continues for Visitors
Although the fountain shows are paused, Emaar has ensured that visitors still get a unique experience. The site has been fenced off, but in a smart and creative way. The construction fencing is embedded with digital display screens, which continuously play archival footage of the Dubai Fountain in action, timed beautifully to the Burj Khalifa light show. So while the live performance is temporarily suspended, the spirit and spectacle of the Dubai Fountain remain on full display for anyone visiting the promenade.
