UAE welcomes 2026 with dazzling fireworks, drone shows

A montage of the New Year's fireworks in the UAE.

The UAE welcomed 2026 with spectacular fireworks, drone displays and light shows across all seven emirates, reinforcing its reputation as a global benchmark for large-scale celebrations and public safety. As the clock struck midnight on January 1 (Thursday), skies across the country transformed into open-air stages, drawing massive crowds and millions of viewers worldwide. Abu Dhabi In the capital, fireworks illuminated multiple locations, including Abu Dhabi Corniche, Al Maryah Island, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, Liwa Festival, Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba and Yas Bay. Al Wathba hosted a 62-minute continuous display featuring fireworks, drone shows and cultural performances as part of the Sheikh Zayed Festival. The programme included a drone show using 6,500 drones in a single flight, forming nine large-scale artistic scenes revealed for the first time worldwide. Dubai Dubai staged 48 fireworks shows across 40 locations, including seven fireworks displays at Global Village, which celebrated the New Year across seven countries, starting with China at 8pm. Major celebrations took place at Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah and The Dubai Fountain. For the first time in Dubai’s New Year history, a 20-minute live performance at the Dubai Fountain preceded the Burj Khalifa fireworks, featuring musicians, acrobats, jet ski performers, flyboarders and aerial acts. Dubai Frame also debuted drone performances alongside its traditional fireworks display, marking the landmark’s first use of aerial choreography for New Year’s Eve. Sharjah and other emirates In Sharjah, fireworks lit up Al Heera Beach, Al Majaz Waterfront and Khor Fakkan Beach. Celebrations also took place across Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Qaiwain, creating a unified national celebration. Ras Al Khaimah once again drew global attention with its record-breaking phoenix drone display and a six-kilometre fireworks show stretching from Al Hamra to Marjan Island. Security and crowd management Authorities credited the success of the celebrations to integrated operational plans, extensive traffic management and the deployment of patrols, civil defence and ambulance teams supported by smart monitoring technologies. Public compliance and high awareness further ensured smooth movement and a safe festive environment, positioning the UAE as a global model for managing large-scale events with efficiency and professionalism.