The Dubai Fountain show is free, watched from the promenade outside Dubai Mall. What costs money is the Dubai Fountain Lake Ride – also sold as the Burj Khalifa Lake Ride – a 30-minute abra trip across Burj Lake during a show, from ~AED 75, with under-3s free. Evening shows run every 30 minutes from 18:00 to 23:00; for a closer look on a budget, the floating Boardwalk costs ~AED 25.
Dubai: Burj Khalifa Lake Ride and Fountain Show
A 30-minute ride on a traditional wooden abra across Burj Lake, timed so you're on the water during a Dubai Fountain show, passing Souk Al Bahar with the Burj Khalifa overhead.
- 30 minutes on Burj Lake by traditional abra
- On the water during a fountain show
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead
Free Dubai Fountain show times
The Dubai Fountain typically performs twice at lunchtime and every 30 minutes each evening, and watching from the shore costs nothing.
- Lunchtime: 13:00 and 13:30 (Fridays: 13:30 and 14:00)
- Evening: every 30 minutes from 18:00 to 23:00 – 11 shows a night
- Each show: a few minutes, set to a single piece of music
Times change during Ramadan and for special events, so check on the day. The Lake Ride runs around the evening shows – Gulf News reported departures from 17:45 to 22:45 in October 2025 – so pick a ride time that overlaps a show.
Is the Dubai Fountain Lake Ride worth it?
It's worth it if you want to see the show from the water with the Burj Khalifa straight above you – not if you're expecting a different show. The music, jets and lights are the same from the shore, and one Tripadvisor reviewer put it bluntly: it's "not really worth the money, you don't see anything different from what you can see walking along the shore."
That's fair about the show, but the angle does change. From the abra you're at water level, looking up past the jets at the tower, with Souk Al Bahar alongside – a photo you can't take from the promenade.
With shows every 30 minutes and a 30-minute ride, you'll usually see one show from the boat; the rest is a slow lap of the lake. The same reviewer warned it gets crowded and advised buying tickets in advance.
Skip it if money's tight: the promenade shows you the same show for free, and the Boardwalk gets you close for about a third of the price. GetYourGuide and the official platform both priced the ride at ~AED 75 on 23 September 2026, but online and gate prices can differ – check before you go.
Best viewing spots – Boardwalk vs the boat
You have three ways to watch, and only two cost money:
| Where | Cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Mall promenade, Burj Park, Souk Al Bahar, Dubai Mall bridge | Free | The full show from the shore |
| Dubai Fountain Boardwalk | ~AED 25 | A 272 m floating walkway about 10 m from the fountain |
| Lake Ride (Burj Khalifa Lake Ride) | ~AED 75 | 30 minutes on an abra, on the water during a show |
The Boardwalk is the value upgrade – Visit Dubai's official listing prices it from ~AED 25 for anyone aged 3 and over. Collect Boardwalk and Lake Ride tickets booked through the official platform at the At the Top counter on the LG level of Dubai Mall, arriving 30 minutes before your slot.
The boat is the premium option: you're on the lake rather than beside it, and the Burj Khalifa towers over you for the whole ride.
Watch at least one show free from the shore, then pay for the Lake Ride only if water level with the tower overhead is the view you want.
The fountain plays at the foot of the tower, so it pairs neatly with a Burj Khalifa observation-deck ticket – come down in time for an evening show. For the rest of the trip, see our guide to things to do in Dubai.
Featured image: Aleksandar Pasaric / Wikimedia Commons / CC0
