Abu Dhabi: The capital’s National Day weekend fireworks programme has been expanded to make the celebrations more accessible for residents and visitors with 11 shows at six sites now planned throughout the emirate.
The new programme is part of a mega schedule of National Day weekend activities planned for the emirate designed to entertain residents and visitors alike.
Some 63,410 shots in total will now be fired in specially designed shows commissioned by the Tourism and Culture Authority Abu Dhabi (TCAD) from Spanish fireworks specialist Pirotecnia Igual – the company behind this year’s Rio de Janeiro Revellion show.
“The highly acclaimed pyrotechnics artist and director Angel Gonzalez who was behind the Copacabana theatrical is designing this year’s Abu Dhabi shows and has promised a breathtaking spectacle which will include Pirotecnia Igual’s proprietary Kamuro and Willow Golden Palm creations,” explained Jasem Al Darmaki, Deputy Director General, TCAAD.
“Angel is renowned in the pyrotechnics field for his signature style which has been behind some of the world’s most dramatic fireworks displays,” Al Darmaki added.
A 12-minute show will run at Abu Dhabi Corniche on December 1 and 2 at 9pm.
“It will be visible to all on the Corniche stretch running from the Hiltonia to the public beach,” he explained.
The Corniche will also come alive with entertainment and games to engage families from all nationalities. Additionally, the Emirates Heritage Club will host additional attractions at its Corniche Breakwater Heritage Village, which will be open from 9am until 10pm on December 2.
Running alongside the festivities, a traditional market and handicraft demonstrations of leatherware, glassware and knife production will be set up. The club will also have a traditional rowing boat available to take up to 10 people at a time on a trip along the Corniche. The trips will be free of charge and will run every half hour from 4.30pm until 7pm.
On December 2, a three-minute show will bring to a close the National Day parade celebrations on Yas Island at 8pm.
Three- minute shows will also be held on December 1 and 2 at Khor Al Maqta – in front of the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr hotel starting at 8.30pm.
“This show will spread out across the water to be visible to people dining out at the restaurants of the hotels and the souq which flank the channel,” said Al Darmaki.
In Abu Dhabi’s heritage heartland of Al Ain, 10-minute shows will run at 8.30pm on December 1 and 2 at Hili Fun City, with free entry to the park.
In the emirate’s Western Region, seven-minute shows will run at 8.30pm on December 1 and 2 in Madinat Zayed and on Delma Island.
Meanwhile on Yas Island – December 2 will see thousands of cars decorated in the colours of the UAE national flag gathering to bid for entry into the Guinness World Records. Launched by TCA-AD and The Life and Style Show UAE, the country’s largest-ever consumer lifestyle show which runs at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre will run from December 5-7.
