As the world welcomed the dawn of 2026, celebrations unfolded across regions and time zones, uniting cities in a shared moment of renewal.
From Sydney’s iconic harbour fireworks and festive gatherings across India, to landmark displays in Europe’s historic capitals, the New Year was marked with spectacle and optimism. Across the Gulf, cities lit up the night sky with coordinated fireworks, light shows and public festivities.
The UAE ushered in the New Year 2026 with a majestic celebratory scene that captured global attention, as the country’s skies transformed after midnight into an open-air stage for innovative fireworks displays and dazzling light formations.
Massive crowds of Emiratis, residents, and tourists gathered to document these exceptional moments, said a WAM news agency report.
In the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba recorded a notable turnout, blending grand fireworks with a rich heritage atmosphere to deliver a fully immersive visual and auditory experience.
Festive gatherings and fireworks also lit up the Saadiyat cultural district and the Corniche, radiating joy in welcoming the New Year.
In Dubai, the emirate reinforced its status as one of the world’s premier New Year’s destinations, with eyes fixed on Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai. The area hosted a unique visual spectacle combining laser technology and fireworks in perfect harmony, alongside wide-ranging celebrations at Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, and Global Village.
The emirate of Ras Al Khaimah rang in 2026 with a spectacular 15-minute drones and fireworks display that set a new Guinness World Records title for the ‘Largest aerial display of a phoenix formed by multirotors/drones’.
The highlight of the celebration was an awe-inspiring drone performance that transformed the night sky into a living canvas.
At the heart of this display was the record-breaking Phoenix, a mythical symbol of renewal, optimism, and rebirth, echoing Ras Al Khaimah’s own transformation and ambition to continuously reimagine its future. This display was brought to life by 2,300 drones, including 1,000 state-of-the-art pyro drones that ignited the Phoenix wings in a dramatic blaze of light as it soared above Ras Al Khaimah’s waterfront. The spectacle continued with another striking drone formation named ‘The Welcome’ – a human form rising from the sea with open arms, embodying the emirate’s spirit of warmth, openness, and hospitality.
Following the drone show, a precisely timed fireworks countdown to midnight ignited a six-kilometre-long fireworks display stretching from Marjan Island to Al Hamra. Hundreds of fireworks erupted in perfectly choreographed waves, cascading along the coastline in a dazzling symphony of colour, sound, and light.
