Dubai attempts to launch world’s largest fountain

1 / 2
The Palm Fountain will spread over 14,000 square feet of sea water and come alive with more than 3,000 LED lights. (Supplied)
2 / 2
The Palm Fountain will spread over 14,000 square feet of sea water and come alive with more than 3,000 LED lights. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 04 October 2020
Follow

Dubai attempts to launch world’s largest fountain

  • The Palm Fountain’s super shooter will stand tall at 105 meters
  • The fountain will attempt a Guinness World Record title on Oct. 22

DUBAI: The Pointe, a waterfront complex of upscale shops, restaurants and entertainment, by Nakheel Malls, is preparing to launch the world’s largest fountain in Dubai.
“The Palm Fountain,” the latest tourist attraction at The Palm Jumeirah, is seeking to break a Guinness World Records title on Thursday, Oct. 22 during its inaugural launch event, which will be open to the public.
Spread over 14,000 square feet of sea water, the fountain’s super shooter will stand tall at 105 meters and come alive with more than 3,000 LED lights.
“The attraction is the only multicolored fountain in Dubai and is a celebration of the emirates’ resurgence and ambition to aim for the sky,” The Pointe and Nakheel Malls said in a joint statement.
Nakheel Malls Managing Director Omar Khoory said that the fountain was “a celebration of Dubai’s resilience” and “a testament to our commitment to support retailers and push boundaries to provide our customers with unique experiences.”
Thursday’s event will include a day of activities and competitions. A concert will begin at 4 p.m. local time featuring multiple DJ sets, dance performances and firework displays.

Ahmed Al-KHajja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), said: “The Palm Fountain is yet another incredible addition to Dubai’s list of world-famous landmarks and is sure to be a big draw among residents and visitors alike.
“Its launch further cements the city’s status as a must-visit destination where guests from around the world can experience the best sights and sounds as well as unrivalled retail and tourist spaces,” he said.
The Palm Fountain will have 20 bespoke shows. Five different shows will run daily between sunset and midnight (7 p.m. to 12 a.m.) with an array of popular songs including local, pop, classical and international music.
Beijing Water Design Technology cooperated in the design, construction and operation of The Palm Fountain. Its chairman, Xin Su, described it as “an extraordinary feat,” adding: “As one of China’s largest fountain specialists, this project was unique for us as we had the opportunity to tackle many firsts in ingenuity” and the “very best technology and expertise were utilized to bring this to life.”
Guinness World Records said that the fountain was a great addition to the long list of attractions that made Dubai iconic.
Shaddy Gaad, Guinness World Records senior marketing manager for the MENA region, said the organization was in the “process of verifying the largest fountain and they look forward to hopefully seeing this world-class landmark being declared Officially Amazing™.”


Fans bid farewell to Japan’s only pandas

Updated 25 January 2026
Follow

Fans bid farewell to Japan’s only pandas

TOKYO: Panda lovers in Tokyo said goodbye on Sunday to a hugely popular pair of the bears that are set to return to China, leaving Japan without the beloved animals for the first time in half a century.
Loaned out as part of China’s “panda diplomacy” program, the distinctive black-and-white animals have symbolized friendship between Beijing and Tokyo since the normalization of diplomatic ties in 1972.
Some visitors at Ueno Zoological Gardens were left teary-eyed as they watched Japan’s only two pandas Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao munch on bamboo.
The animals are expected to leave for China on Tuesday following a souring of relations between Asia’s two largest economies.
“I feel like seeing pandas can help create a connection with China too, so in that sense I really would like pandas to come back to Japan again,” said Gen Takahashi, 39, a Tokyo resident who visited the zoo with his wife and their two-year-old daughter.
“Kids love pandas as well, so if we could see them with our own eyes in Japan, I’d definitely want to go.”
The pandas’ abrupt return was announced last month after Japan’s conservative premier Sanae Takaichi hinted Tokyo could intervene militarily in the event of any attack on Taiwan.
Her comment provoked the ire of Beijing, which regards the island as its own territory.
The 4,400 lucky winners of an online lottery took turns viewing the four-year-old twins at Ueno zoo while others gathered nearby, many sporting panda-themed shirts, bags and dolls to celebrate the moment.
Mayuko Sumida traveled several hours from the central Aichi region in the hope of seeing them despite not winning the lottery.
“Even though it’s so big, its movements are really funny-sometimes it even acts kind of like a person,” she said, adding that she was “totally hooked.”
“Japan’s going to be left with zero pandas. It feels kind of sad,” she said.
Their departure might not be politically motivated, but if pandas return to Japan in the future it would symbolize warming relations, said Masaki Ienaga, a professor at Tokyo Woman’s Christian University and expert in East Asian international relations.
“In the future...if there are intentions of improving bilateral ties on both sides, it’s possible that (the return of) pandas will be on the table,” he told AFP.