The Middle East's biggest shopping centre was partially evacuated today as maintenance crews scrambled to contain a leak, captured on video, springing from a shark-filled aquarium.

The footage posted on the website of a Dubai newspaper showed the water from the 2.6m-gallon (11m-litre) tank pouring on to the mall's polished floors.

Visitors were kept from the scene after the water began pouring from behind the 75cm-thick viewing panel. However, from a distance the water appeared to be contained inside the tank.

"There has been a small break in the glass," an official at Dubai's civil defence department said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Emaar – the company that owns the mall and the world's largest building, the Burj Khalifa, above – confirmed the leak in a brief statement. "A leakage was noticed at one of the panel joints of the Dubai Aquarium at the Dubai Mall and was immediately fixed by the aquarium's maintenance team," it said. "The leakage did not impact the aquarium environment or the safety of the aquatic animals."

The incident raises fresh questions about building safety in the city-state. Less than three weeks ago Emaar barred public access to the Burj Khalifa after an elevator got stuck near the 124th-floor observation deck.

The company added that it "upholds the highest safety standards in its management". It did not make anyone available to comment further.

Much of the area around the aquarium was evacuated and has been cordoned off. An employee working for the ticket office, Samia al-Rajaby, said that the aquarium was being closed for the day as maintenance crews worked.

Shopkeepers near the aquarium said they were ordered to close their stores and evacuate the area for fear of further flooding during repairs.

"They told me that the aquarium exploded," an employee of an affected shop said on condition of anonymity. "We feel upset because it's the end of the month and the start of the weekend and we were expecting many customers."

But Alena Markovich, a manager of a clothing store that remained open for business, said the security response was swift and appropriate. "They are doing their best," she said.

The Dubai Mall opened in November 2008. The shark, stingray and fish-filled aquarium is on the ground floor and boasts the world's largest acrylic viewing panel.