La Perle is the region's first permanent resident show, created by Franco Dragone, the director behind Le Rêve in Las Vegas and The House of Dancing Water in Macau. It plays in a purpose-built aqua theatre at Al Habtoor City, where over 90 minutes the stage turns into a pool and back into a dry floor.
Tickets and prices
What to see
The theatre's pool holds 2.7 million litres of water, and the stage floods and drains within seconds. Performers dive into it from up to 25 metres, fly above the audience and race motorbikes, while projections cover the walls, floor and a giant backdrop, with real rain and waterfalls inside the hall. The cast numbers 65 artists from 23 countries.
The story is inspired by Dubai's past, present and future: its characters include the King, Pearl Girl, the warrior Antar, the Prince, a Lion born from the Chinese lion dance, and cyborgs. The 1,300-seat auditorium wraps 270 degrees around the stage in just 14 rows, so the view is good from almost every seat.
Getting there
Al Habtoor City is just off Sheikh Zayed Road by the Dubai Water Canal: about 10 minutes by car from Downtown, 15 from Burj Al Arab, 20 from Dubai Marina and the Palm, and 25 from Deira and the airport. There is a car park under the theatre, valet at the entrance for AED 75 and a taxi drop-off point.
Planning your visit
Shows run Wednesday to Sunday at 18:30 and 21:00. A regular bronze ticket costs about AED 269, with partner discounts available; the dinner-and-show package starts at AED 415. You choose your seat when booking, up to 20 tickets per order. Arrive 45–60 minutes early: tickets are collected an hour before the show with ID, and you take your seat 30 minutes before.
Before you go
The dress code is smart casual. Children aged 2 and over are welcome and need their own ticket; under-2s are not admitted. Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable, and latecomers are let in only at a suitable moment and may be reseated.
La Perle Theatre, Al Habtoor City, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai · 25.184037, 55.254861
