Dubai: Residents and tourists are spoilt for choice for New Year fireworks on December 31 with Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, The Palm Jumeirah and Atlantis the Palm offering scenic backdrops for what could be the world’s largest pyrotechnic display.
Some 450,000 colourful fireworks choreographed for six minutes across The Palm Jumeirah and the islands of The World aim to break the Guinness World Record for ‘largest fireworks display’ currently held by Kuwait. The attempt will cover a distance of 99.4 kilometres of seafront, which can be seen from vantage points across the city. Kuwait’s 2012 record featured a fireworks display that stretched over 5km of seafront, but lasted 64 minutes.
The fireworks will be exclusively designed by US-based Fireworks by Grucci, which also engineered the pyrotechnic display during the opening of Atlantis and the Palm Jumeirah in 2008.
After the world record attempt, another 15-minute display will cover a one kilometre stretch of the Jumeirah beach, with the Burj Al Arab, Madinat Jumeirah and Jumeirah Beach Hotel as the backdrop.
Residents can also go to the Downtown Dubai for the annual Burj Khalifa New Year fireworks. The display will be held shortly before midnight and will last 20 minutes, coinciding with the world record attempt at the Palm Jumeirah.
For those who cannot make it to either location, Dubai Festival City has prepared a display of fireworks and synchronised light and water show that will light up the sky on the same day at midnight.
“The celebrations will mark the end of a momentous year for Dubai — a year which we will reflect on with pride and has laid the groundwork for a prosperous future,” said Helal Saeed Al Merri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.
Al Merri stressed that the highlight of the occasion was Dubai’s win in hosting World Expo 2020, which will further promote Dubai’s story of a young city and nation that positively shaped global perceptions of the Arabian Gulf as a destination for both business and leisure.
