The World’s Largest Dancing Fountain
Shooting water jets as high as 500 ft (150 metres), equivalent to that of a 50-storey building, the Dubai Fountain dances each night – for 3-5 minutes – just next to Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa. I had taken these pictures a few months back, when my Nikon was just a few days old, hence the crappy pictures. I didn’t even know what all settings were there plus I didn’t have a tripod (and these were night shots!). I know … it’s unforgivable.
How this fountain came about with the name – Dubai Fountain – is truly funny (or so I think). Here’s how it happened:
Following the successful completion of the fountain naming contest on September 15 (2008), a distinguished panel has selected the name which echoes the rising global prominence of Dubai and will be a fitting tribute to the city. More than 4,000 participants representing over 100 nationalities took part in the competition, which was held from July 1 to September 15.
Although the competition was open only to UAE residents, entries were received from all across the globe, further reflecting Dubai’s growing global significance. Participants of the competition had to suggest a name that they believed captured the essence of the spectacular fountain. The winning name – Dubai Fountain – was chosen by a panel comprising senior management of Emaar, community leaders and project experts. The selection process was overlooked by a representative of Dubai Department of Economic Development.
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Wow pics!
Thanks, Vikas. But I want to go back there and take loads of pictures again.
OMG the fountain looks really awesome! Just took my breath away…
And the name , Dubai Fountain is…err, very original. 😉
It is, Alisha … it’s beautiful! LOL, yeah, the name is pretty original, isn’t it? Whoever came up with that awesome name must have been so proud of him/herself 😉
Wow amazing pictures , espcly the last picture is chance less …is this a latest attraction n Dubai or old one?
Thanks, Niyaz! No, Burj Khalifa remains the latest attraction to date, but the fountain started right before that, so it’s not old either.
Outstanding!
I am sure there were no brain triggers on choosing and selecting a name 🙂
Oh no, it had been a very tough decision. After all ‘.. the name was chosen by a panel comprising senior management of Emaar, community leaders and project experts.’ 😉
Very original name for a very original fountain! 😀
I must say, the last picture is quite spectacular!
Thank you, Mezba. Yes, they couldn’t have come up with a much exciting name 😉
Looks like a really cool fountain!
I read in the paper today about how there was some problems with elevators at the Burj Khalifa and how some tourists were turned away… just was thinking hope everything’s fixed if I decide to come. And I’d love to see this fountain so thanks for sharing it!
You’re most welcome, ‘liya! There is an unofficial news that the observatory deck is scheduled to reopen on Sunday, February 14. So inshaAllah, you’ll be able to visit.
Spectacular pics! Good work. I wonder if there was a BUMPER prize for suggesting this name?? :-P.
Nice blog template you have here. A great bluish blackish combination. Good change (Y) 🙂
Thank you, Haris!
I think there was a prize, but I’m not sure 🙂
Regarding this new template, I’m still deciding whether I like it or not. I got tired with the white background actually.
This theme (Motion) certainly looks wonderful! 🙂
I haven’t decided yet if this theme is for me, yet. I feel some slowness in loading pages 🙁
Please add a ‘add this’ button here like http://dbennsion.wordpress.com; I would have loved sharing it on my FB
Vikas, when I click on that link it leads to the WordPress page that says, ‘Get your own WordPress.com account in seconds.’
Is that ‘Add This’ button similar to ‘Reblog’? I don’t think this theme supports that feature.
Sorry, I gave the wrong link! It is http://dbennisson.wordpress.com (see sidebar)
The reblog thing is zemanta
Ok, I got now! It’s there on my sidebar. I didn’t know this even existed, lol. Thanks a lot, Vikas! 🙂
Great, works fine! I just added it to Digg!
Thank you!
Wow, nice pictures…. fountains always scare me a bit but maybe that’s just the water 🙂
<3 the new blog layout! The colors *thumbs up*!!!!
Thank you, Specs! But I’m sure the Dubai Fountain won’t scare you; they play classical music in the background so it feels like watching a performance 🙂
I love this blue-black-green color too. Except that the blog is called The Purple Journal 😀
Purple… yeah… that kinda escaped my mind, LOL.
WOW .. Nadia jee.. great photography . Pics are simply amazing !!
Thank you, Shahan! Why don’t you open a photo blog? You have so many amazing pictures.
Woah! Amazing shots Nadia! It all looks so beautiful!
&& I love your new look, my page is under construction too. Snap!
🙂
Thank you, Smiley! When is your blog going to be ready? I can’t wait to see the new look! I noticed you’ve password-protected it – so now I’m even more curious 😀
Aww Masha Allah it’s just sooooo fabulous Nadia 🙂
Thank you, Sis! How are you doing? I missed you so much!
Assalamlaikum sis,
The pics are lovely.
I have been to Vegas and visited the Bellagio fountains.The fountains go off every 15 mins or 30 mins I think.And they have all sorts of opera singing in the background and even the phantom of the opera score.Its a lovely experience…the lights and the sight of water dancing on music in front of the Bellagio hotel.
People in dxb can have a mini vegas experience.My hubby was watching a documentary on Dubai where it said that Dxb is known as Vegas of the East or the Middle east.I was so surprised.I lived in AD all my life and never knew about the secret wonders of dxb.Apparently, there’s a nightclub that is a well known hangout for call girls and the clients…ahem ahem and its good entertainment for all the tourists and the foreign businessmen.You can imagine how shocked I was and I told my hubby,”I never knew such a night club existed”.
Walaikum Assalam, Sis. Sadly, it’s true that Dubai has night clubs – lots of them. I think almost every 4 to 5 star hotels has a bar/night club 🙁
Oh and I really like the new look 🙂
Thank you, Nizsha! 🙂
Wow, nice pics! I love your posts about Dubai 🙂
And I love the new layout!
Thank you so much, Sara! 🙂
What do you use to add your name in watermark to these pictures?
Abid, I use Picasa 3.
Bellisima!!!