The district
Downtown Dubai around the lake
What stands around Burj Lake in Downtown Dubai: the tower, the Dubai Mall, the Arabian-style market and the low-rise Old Town.
Reserve a place on the lake ↗Quick answer
Downtown Dubai is a large mixed-use development by Emaar Properties, with the Burj Khalifa as its centrepiece. The Dubai Mall and Souk Al Bahar stand beside the lake, and the Old Town is built in a low-rise Arabic style. The lake ride and the free promenade view both sit at the middle of it.
A development built around a lake
Wikipedia describes Downtown Dubai as a mixed-use complex developed by Emaar Properties, covering about 2 square kilometres. The Burj Khalifa is its centrepiece, and the article places the lake beside the Dubai Mall and the Old Town. It is a planned district, so the lake is part of the design rather than an afterthought, and the fountain stands at the centre of it.
The mall and the market
The Dubai Mall is described as one of the world's largest shopping malls, and the Dubai Mall article says it opened on 4 November 2008. Souk Al Bahar is a market next to the Dubai Fountain, according to the Downtown Dubai article, with restaurants, cafes and lounges, which makes it the easy place to eat before or after a show or a boat ride.
The tower
The Burj Khalifa opened in 2010. It is the tallest building in the world according to the article, and it stands at the heart of the district. Its Red Line metro station, Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, is the closest to the fountain, and the station's own article lists the fountain among the attractions it is closest to.
Frequently asked questions
Who developed Downtown Dubai?
Emaar Properties.
What is beside the lake?
The Dubai Mall, Souk Al Bahar and the Old Town.
Is it all within walking distance of the lake?
The lake is central to the development, but check the map for your own route.
Sources
- English Wikipedia article: Downtown Dubai (read 13 November 2026)
- English Wikipedia article: Burj Khalifa (read 13 November 2026)
- English Wikipedia article: Dubai Mall (read 13 November 2026)
- English Wikipedia article: Dubai Fountain (read 13 November 2026)
- English Wikipedia article: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station (read 13 November 2026)
- English Wikipedia article: WET (company) (read 13 November 2026)