In Dubai, they’re thinking big these days. Emaar Properties has unveiled it plans to build one of the largest fountains in the world with an integral light and sound show, as the centerpiece of its Downtown Burj Dubai project.

This new iconic feature will be one of the city’s major tourist attractions and is expected to draw over 10 million visitors annually.

At 825 feet long, the $218 million project will be 25 percent larger than the iconic fountains at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas.

Powerful water nozzles will shoot water sprays to heights of over 500 ft (150 metres) – equivalent to that of a 50-storey building.

A light and sound show produced by a network of 6,600 lights and 50 projectors will illuminate the Dubai skyline at night. About 22,000 gallons of water are expected to cycle through the fountain at any given time

The fountain will be operational by early 2009 adding to the varied leisure and entertainment attractions of Downtown Burj Dubai, described as the “new soul of the city”. The flagship mega-project of Emaar Properties, Downtown Burj Dubai has a development value of US$20 billion!