La Perle Show

La Perle in Dubai is a resident show in a theatre built specially for it, at Al Habtoor City. At the centre of the stage is a pool that fills and empties in seconds, and the performers dive into it, fly above it and dance on it. According to the official site, it is the region's first resident show.

The show combines aerial acrobatics, high diving, music and effects, in the style of contemporary circus. There is no dialogue, so you do not need to understand any language.

Behind the show stands the Italian director Franco Dragone. According to The National, he directed almost every Cirque du Soleil show between 1985 and 1998, and also created Celine Dion's Las Vegas show. He began developing La Perle in 2015 together with the Al Habtoor Group, and the show premiered in September 2017. Dragone died in October 2022, and the show continues to run.

The theatre is built around the stage. According to the production's site, it holds 1,300 seats in 14 rows, wrapped at 270 degrees. The pool at its centre holds 2.7 million litres of water and is 8 metres deep, so performers can dive into it from a height. According to the official site, the performers dive from 18 metres.

On stage are around 65 performers from 23 countries: dancers, acrobats, divers and motorcycle riders. Four motorbikes ride inside a suspended metal sphere, and a giant puppet is operated by seven performers. The story draws on the culture of Dubai, its present and its vision for the future, with characters such as the Pearl Prince and a young fisherwoman.

What happens backstage is almost as big as what happens on stage. According to The National, in the show's first year, alongside the 60-65 performers, another 70-80 technical crew worked on it. During each performance five divers stay underwater at all times, to look after the performers diving in and climbing out of the pool. The theatre itself is 10 storeys high, and the music was written by Michael Brennan, who worked with Dragone for many years.

According to the same article, in its first year the show ran 422 times, in front of more than 315,000 spectators from 178 countries. That year the stage saw 1,266 high dives and 15,000 harness flights. According to the official site, Dragone previously created Le Reve in Las Vegas and The House of Dancing Water in Macau, two major water shows, and La Perle continues the same line.

It suits families and anyone looking for a night out in the city. Tickets are sold by seating zone, from Silver up to VIP. According to the official site, children from age 2 can attend, and they too need a ticket. Anyone arriving late is admitted only at a suitable break in the show, and is sometimes seated elsewhere, so as not to disturb.

Tip: the front rows are close to the pool, and sometimes catch a few drops of water. When booking on the official site you can choose a specific seat.

The show takes place in the evening, so it is a good end to a day of attractions. There are no performances on every day of the week, and we will confirm the day and time of the performance on your chosen date with you at the time of booking. Anyone arriving by car or taxi should set out early: the official website recommends reaching Al Habtoor City 45–60 minutes before the show starts, because of the traffic.