Dubai's 'The Pointe' at Palm Jumeirah breaks world record for largest fountain

With multicoloured lights and jets of water blasting into the night sky, the United Arab Emirate's newest attraction set a world record on Thursday as the largest fountain ever.

Located at The Pointe inDubai's waterfront Palm Jumeirah area, the glitzy Palm Fountain was unveiled in a launch that was live-streamed around the world.

The fountain spans over 14,000 square feet (1,300 square meters) of seawater, according to Gail Sangster, asset director at Nakheel Malls, the developers behind the fountain. She said it features 128 super shooters reaching up to 105 metres (344 feet) in height.

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The Palm Fountain has been crowned the Guinness World Record holder for the world's largest fountain, stealing the title from the Banpo Moonlight Rainbow Fountain in South Korea.

"GWR is delighted to officially see The PalmFountainbreaking the title of the Largestfountain," Shaddy Gaad, Senior Marketing Manager at Guinness World Records said in a statement.

"Thisfountainis an example of another milestone in Dubai's architectural achievements," it said, adding that Guinness was declaring it "Officially Amazing".

Dubai, one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, already holds a string of world record titles -- including the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, and the fastest police car in service, a Bugatti Veyron.

The city that attracts millions of tourists had already one of the largest fountains in the world near Burj Khalifa.

The newfountainhas over 3,000 LED lights, 7,500 nozzles and can shoot water up to 105 metres, according to Guinness.

Last month, British artist Sacha Jafri broke the record for the largest art canvas measuring 1,595 square metres, also in Dubai, Guinness said.

The 44-year-old contemporary artist has said he hoped to raise at least $30 million to fund health and education initiatives for children in impoverished parts of the world.

Dubai, which has the most diversified economy in the oil-rich Gulf region, has been badly hit by the coronavirus slowdown.

Its GDP has contracted 3.5 per cent in the first quarter, following two years of modest growth.

Tourism has long been a mainstay of the emirate, which welcomed more than 16 million visitors last year.

Before the pandemic crippled global travel, the aim was to reach 20 million this year.

Dubai is now largely open for business and tourism, but infection rates have been rising in recent weeks.