var $dialog = $("#html-div").html("Loading...") // can use image .dialog({ autoOpen: false, title:"Title", modal: true, width: 750, height : 300 }) .load(ActionUrl",{ param1:value1, // setting parameter values to send to server param2:value2 },function(){ // write events for loaded contents }); $dialog.dialog( "open" ); // open the dialog box