Dubai Festival City is a mall-and-waterfront district on the east bank of Dubai Creek, five to ten minutes by car from the airport. Its official pages say the first IMAGINE water-and-light show starts about 7:30 PM and lasts about 10 minutes. The mall opens at 10 AM, four hotels stand on the site, and there is no Metro station inside it. It suits airport stopovers, families and shoppers more than a first sightseeing trip. This guide covers the show, the mall, the hotels, transport and honest downsides.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
Tour on this route: Old Dubai Walking Tour — From $35 per person, 3-4 hours.
What time is the IMAGINE show at Dubai Festival City?
The mall's FAQ says the first show starts at about 7:30 PM and each one lasts about 10 minutes, with a break of about half an hour. The home page says shows run every hour from 7 PM to 11 PM, and the IMAGINE page says after sunset every night. The times differ, so check on the day.
This guide also answers:
- Is the IMAGINE show free?
- How far is Dubai Festival City from the airport?
- Is there a Metro station at Dubai Festival City?
Five things to know about Festival City
#1
The IMAGINE show
The official site describes IMAGINE as a Guinness World Record water, fire, laser and light show with 30 fountains and giant aqua screens. The mall's FAQ puts the first show at about 7:30 PM, each about 10 minutes long. The pages we read do not state an entry price, so check on the day.
#2
The Dubai Fountain, for comparison
IMAGINE is a Festival City show, not the Dubai Fountain at Burj Khalifa. If you stay here and want the Downtown fountain too, plan a separate evening trip by taxi or by Metro. Our fountain guide gives the show times and the best viewing spots, so you can choose which to see.
#3
Hotels beside the airport and the Creek
The Festival City site lists an InterContinental with direct mall access, a Crowne Plaza on the Creek bank, a Holiday Inn a short drive from the airport and InterContinental Residence Suites. They suit early flights and long stopovers. Check current rates for your dates; we do not print hotel prices.
#4
The Creek by boat
The Festival City site lists dhow rides with live entertainment and dinner on board, and its FAQ mentions a water taxi from Al Jaddaf Marine Transportation Station. The traditional abra crossing between Bur Dubai and Deira is a separate and much cheaper ride across the water in the old town.
#5
Dubai Creek Harbour next door
Dubai Creek Harbour has a promenade with the Downtown skyline across the water, and the planned Blue Line has a station there as well as at Festival City. It is the quieter alternative to the mall evening. Our Creek Harbour guide covers the walk and how to get there.
Dubai Festival City in one minute
Dubai Festival City is a planned waterfront district on the eastern bank of Dubai Creek, next to Garhoud and Umm Rammool, built around a large mall and a waterfront. According to its website, it combines homes, offices, shops, restaurants and entertainment, and it is about a 10-minute drive from the airport; the FAQ page says five minutes. Stay here for an early flight, a long stopover or a family week with a mall at the door.
Do not choose it for a first sightseeing trip. It has no beach, no Metro station inside the district, and the Marina, Downtown and the old town are each a taxi ride away. Its evenings are the mall, the restaurants and one short show. The cheaper Creek districts across the water are compared below.
The IMAGINE show: times, length and what to expect
IMAGINE combines water screens, fountains, lasers, fire and projection, with surround sound. The IMAGINE page on the official site says it has won two Guinness World Records, and the home page calls it a record-breaking attraction. The show is an evening feature, not an all-evening event. Each performance lasts about 10 minutes, according to the mall's FAQ.
The official pages disagree on the timetable, so treat the times as approximate. If you plan your dinner around it, ask the mall on 800 332, the number listed on its website, or check its social media on the day. None of the pages we read states a ticket price.
| Official page | What it says about the show |
|---|---|
| Festival City home page | Shows run every hour from 7 PM to 11 PM, on weekdays and weekends |
| Mall FAQ | Multiple shows each day; the first at about 7:30 PM at Festival Bay behind the mall; each about 10 minutes, with a break of about half an hour |
| IMAGINE page | After sunset, every night |
Read on the Dubai Festival City website. Times and any closures can change, so check before you go.
If the fountain is the main reason to go out in the evening, the Dubai Fountain guide lists the Downtown show times; it is a different and larger show.
The mall, the restaurants and what children get
The mall's FAQ lists opening hours of 10 AM to 10 PM on weekdays and 10 AM to midnight at weekends; holiday hours differ. Anchor shops named on the site include IKEA, ACE and Marks & Spencer, and the FAQ counts about 75 restaurants, among them Eataly and Cheesecake Factory, plus Anise, The Fish House and Hard Rock Cafe. The site names both VOX Cinemas and Novo Cinemas, so confirm which one is open before you plan a film.
For children, the FAQ lists Fabyland, the Festival Wheel and Stay and Play, a crèche for ages 2 to 7. A dhow cruise with dinner is listed on the waterfront. The mall is air-conditioned, which is the real benefit from May to September, when the outdoor hours before 9 AM and after 5 PM are the only comfortable ones. The Dubai Shopping Festival usually runs from mid-December to the end of January, according to the mall; our Shopping Festival guide has this season's dates.
Hotels at Festival City
The Festival City website lists four places to stay. We do not print room prices: rates change by date, and we did not read any on an official page. Check current rates for your dates and compare them with Deira and Bur Dubai, which are usually cheaper.
| Hotel | What the official site says | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| InterContinental | 508 rooms and suites over 36 floors, 121 of them suites; direct access to the mall; views of the Creek, the mall or the skyline | Shoppers and families who want the mall at the door |
| Crowne Plaza | 316 rooms and suites on the Creek bank; a 25-metre lap pool, a gym and a spa | Swimmers and Creek views |
| Holiday Inn | A short drive from Dubai International Airport; facilities not itemised | Early flights and stopovers |
| InterContinental Residence Suites | Serviced studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom suites | Longer family stays |
If you only need a bed between flights, our layover guide explains who can leave the airport and how long you need.
Getting there: airport, Metro, water taxi and the Blue Line
The FAQ says the airport is about 2 km away and that the district is served by RTA buses and water taxis. Its Metro advice has two parts: the nearest Metro station is Emirates on the Red Line, about 7-8 minutes away by taxi, or you can take the Green Line to Creek station and a water taxi from Al Jaddaf Marine Transportation Station next to it. The same page also says Creek station is just 5 km away, which does not match the taxi time, so check a live estimate in your ride app.
A Metro station of its own is coming. Gulf News's route map for the Blue Line lists Dubai Festival City among its stations, and RTA says the 30 km line opens on 9 September 2029. Until then, take a taxi. Our airport to Deira and Bur Dubai guide gives taxi and Metro fares for the same side of the Creek, and the Dubai Metro guide covers the Red and Green Lines.
Festival City, Deira, Bur Dubai or Creek Harbour?
All four are around the Creek, and each gives a different kind of stay. The table is a quick guide; the detail is in our area guides.
| Area | What it is | Good for | Downside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Festival City | A mall, hotels and a waterfront on the east bank | Early flights, mall evenings, families | No Metro station inside; the sights are a taxi ride away |
| Deira | The old trading bank with the souks | Low hotel prices, the airport and two Metro lines | Busier and louder than the other banks |
| Bur Dubai | The restored bank with Al Fahidi and Al Seef | Heritage lanes and walks | One Metro change from the airport |
| Dubai Creek Harbour | A new promenade district | A quiet walk with the skyline | Newer; check what is open before you go |
Our Deira or Bur Dubai guide compares the two old-town banks, and the Creek Harbour guide covers the new promenade. The traditional crossing between the old-town banks is described in our abra ride guide.
Our tours from Festival City
Festival City is an ordinary Dubai address for our pickups. The full-day desert safari collects guests from hotels in Dubai in an air-conditioned 4x4 for a 7-hour programme, from $45 per person with no prepayment, and the Abu Dhabi city tour starts at 8:00 AM, lasts 9 hours and costs from $45 shared. Send your hotel name on WhatsApp and we confirm the time.
The Old Dubai walking tour is the natural half day from the Creek. It costs from $35, lasts 3-4 hours and includes an abra ride, the souks, coffee and dates; the $55 option adds street-food tastings. It meets in Al Fahidi near Sharaf DG Metro, and the guide sends the exact pin after payment. From Festival City, take a taxi or check the Green Line route from Creek station in RTA's journey planner.
FAQ
What time is the IMAGINE show at Dubai Festival City?
The mall's FAQ says the first show starts at about 7:30 PM and each one lasts about 10 minutes, with a break of about half an hour. The home page says shows run every hour from 7 PM to 11 PM, and the IMAGINE page says after sunset every night. The times differ, so check on the day.
Is the IMAGINE show free?
The official pages we read do not state a ticket price or say that it is free. It is performed at Festival Bay behind the mall. Call the mall on 800 332 or check its social media before you plan the evening around it.
How far is Dubai Festival City from the airport?
The official site gives about a 10-minute drive on its home page and five minutes, about 2 km, in its FAQ. Allow more at rush hour. It is one of the closest places to stay to Dubai International.
Is there a Metro station at Dubai Festival City?
Not inside the district. The FAQ names Emirates station on the Red Line, about 7-8 minutes away by taxi, or Creek station on the Green Line plus a water taxi. The Blue Line, due on 9 September 2029, is listed with a Festival City station.
Which hotels are at Dubai Festival City?
The official site lists InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and InterContinental Residence Suites. The InterContinental has direct access to the mall and the Crowne Plaza is on the Creek bank. Check current rates for your dates.
Is Dubai Festival City good for families?
It suits families who want an air-conditioned mall at the door: Fabyland, the Festival Wheel and a crèche for ages 2 to 7 are listed. It has no beach, so JBR or Jumeirah need a taxi. Our tours collect from hotels in Dubai.
Is Dubai Festival City worth a visit if I stay elsewhere?
Only if you want the mall or the show. It is a district for stays and shopping, not a sightseeing stop. Visitors based elsewhere reach it by taxi, so check the fare in your ride app first; the old town, the Creek and the souks are the better use of an evening.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Old Dubai Walking Tour
It is the Dubai that is walked rather than driven: the Creek where the city began as a trading port, the restored wind-tower quarter and the souks that still trade spices and gold. A local guide tells the story along the way. The $35 walk includes the abra, Arabic coffee or tea, dates and water; the $55 option adds street-food tastings.
- Duration
- 3-4 hours
- Area
- Old Dubai: Bur Dubai and Deira
- Format
- Shared group walk
- Best for
- first-time visitors, food lovers and anyone who wants the old trading side of Dubai on foot
From $35 per person Full prepayment
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Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai
It is the slow-travel version of the classic safari: more time on the dunes, sunset without the crowds and a full evening programme at a premium camp with air-conditioned tents, unlimited drinks and a large BBQ buffet with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Everything is arranged from the hotel door — a licensed English-speaking driver, the 4x4, the camp and the shows.
- Duration
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- Area
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- Format
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- Best for
- families, couples and first-time desert visitors who want the full evening programme
From $45 per person No prepayment
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Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai
It is the classic capital day in one organised loop: the mosque before the midday heat and crowds, the newly opened BAPS Mandir, the skyline from the Corniche, Bedouin history at Heritage Village and a photo op at Ferrari World. Transport, a licensed guide, mosque registration assistance and bottled water are included; the $45 shared tour covers all free-entry sites, and a private VIP car for up to 7 people is $245.
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Area
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Format
- Full-day guided city tour (shared or private)
- Best for
- families, seniors and first-time visitors who want the capital's landmarks in one day
From $45 per person No prepayment
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Photos: Dubai Creek Harbour next door — Dinitrophenol, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).