Dubai Fountain is the center piece of the Downtown Burj Khalifa, located at the front of Burj Khalifa. Emaar, the developer of Burj Khalifa, and Downtown Burj Khalifa had announced the Dubai fountains in June 2008, at the expected cost of AED 800 million or USD 218 million, which is the total cost of the Fountain's lake, the fountain, and its filtration system. The Dubai fountain is one of the world's tallest fountains, surpassing theFountains of Bellagio at Las Vegas.The Dubai fountains is 275 m (902.2 ft), which is more than the length of two football fields. It is 25 % larger than the Fountains of Bellagio at Las Vegas. The Dubai Fountains can be seen from over 20 mi (32.2 km) away up or horizontally if you have a clear line of sight. The fountains can shoot to the maximum height of 150 m (492.1 ft), which is equivalent to a 40-storey building or high enough to wash the windows a fifth of the way up the Burj Khalifa.

Mechanism

The Dubai Fountain, designed by WET Design, can spray 22,000 gallons (83,000 liters) of water in the air at any moment. More than 6,600 lights and 25 colour projectors have been installed. The Dubai Fountains project water in the air in many different combinations and patterns. The beam of light shining upward from the fountain can be seen from over 20 miles away.. The fountain lake fills the gap between the Dubai Mall, The palace hotel, Souk Al Bahar and The Address Downtown Burj Dubai.

Types of Water jets and Shooters

The Dubai Fountain has many high pressure water jets and shooters to help create the spectacular show.

Oarsmen: Water robots that can pan and tilt any way making the water seem to dance.
Shooters: Shoots water under pressure upward.
Super Shooters: Shoots water under even more pressure up to 240 ft in the air.
Extreme Shooters (New Technology): Shoots water under the most pressure of 420 ft in the air.

The shooters (Shooters, Super Shooters, and Extreme Shooters) are the fountains that create the loud, percussive bang or boom noise after being ejected. This creates a sound of a drum used to further enhance the music. (Ex. In the end of most songs, the Extreme Shooters are used to create a last boom sound to end the music and show.)

The Super Shooters and Extreme Shooters are the fountains that are used the least during each show. Because it takes so much pressure and energy to be able to shoot water that high in the air, it takes much time to build up that pressure.

Performances

The fountain performance starts at 6pm with performances every half-hour until 8pm. Between 8pm and 11pm, music-water displays occur every 20 minutes, there are 14 daily performances. Performances include:

    * "Baba Yetu", a Swahili song for the computer game "Civilization IV", composed by Christopher Tin
    * "Con te partirò" ("Time to Say Goodbye") by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman.
    * "Dhoom Thana", a Hindi song from the film Om Shanti Om.
    * "Sama Dubai-an Emirati", a tribute by Emaar Properties to Sheikh Mohammed's leadership.
    * "Shik Shak Shok", an Arabic dance song by Hassan Abou El Seoud.
    * "Waves" ("Amvaj") by Bijan Mortazavi.
    * "Bassbor Al Fourgakom" by Hussain Al Jassmi.

There are also interludes with the fountains showing its capabilities but without a musical accompaniment.

Testing

Testing of the fountain began in February, and April of 2009 and the fountain was officially opened on 8 May 2009 along with the official opening ceremony of the Dubai Mall.

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