New Year’s Eve fireworks - worth it?

UAE, creating new opportunities

I have been reading all these comments about the New Year’s fireworks (‘How Dubai broke the fireworks world record in one minute,’ Gulf News, January 2). I live in the USA and worked all my life and did well for myself. Recently, I had to go on disability and had to start collecting social security checks. So now I am broke every month. But, I still give as much money as I can to charities and try to be as responsible a citizen I can for my country. For so long now, I have wanted to move to Dubai. By the grand display of fireworks, UAE is promoting itself. They are making the country appealing to the rest of the world. Guess what! It’s actually working. I know this because it’s not just me, many of my friends also want to move to the UAE. More importantly, such exclusive promotions will draw business interests to the UAE from around the world. It will eventually bring more jobs and more revenue.

From Ms Julia Brennen

USA

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Not worth it

I kind of agree that I miss the way the UAE was a few decades ago. I miss it very much. Call me nostalgic. There was no sense in spending this huge sum of money on fireworks. I can think of many more beautiful ways to spend all that money.

From Ms Nancy Kennedy

UAE

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Totally worth it

How was it a waste of money? Do people realise that more than two billion people watched the event? That’s approximately 30 per cent of the world’s total population. Please explain to me how marketing Dubai to more than two billion people is a waste of money? Do people realise the popularity and the exposure Dubai gained because of these fireworks? I think people need to think before they talk. Do you honestly think that a company as big as Dubai World would just waste money? Nobody likes to waste money. No company ever does so purposely. This was more of an investment by Dubai and I think it worked. The amount of popularity Dubai received in one night is enough to increase revenues and earn back the money paid for this event. Dubai already has all the necessary tourist attractions and world-class services, all it needs is to advertise. People who still think it was waste of money should go live in another country because this is how Dubai is. It markets itself.

From Mr Sultan

Dubai

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Long term planning

I was at The Palm on New Year’s Eve. Looking at the cabling and shells, it was obvious that this fireworks display wasn’t an easy task. Considering how coordinated they had to be. Hats off to the organisers. Also the amount of people who came to Dubai just to watch the fireworks is outstanding. I am sure there were more hooked on their television and laptops watching the grand display. Even if Dubai doesn’t break its own record next year, the magnificent display this year was enough to attract people to Dubai for the next few decades.

From Mr Hamza

Dubai

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Help the poor

Why would UAE use so much money on firworks that only lasted a few minutes? It could have been used for the poor and could have secured many lives.

From Mr Mohammad Endier

UAE

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Inadequate television coverage

I think the local television networks lost a grand opportunity of screening the world record New Year’s Eve fireworks (‘Why fireworks on the Palm in Dubai started late,’ Gulf News, January 2). Some channels covered the event for more than an hour, but they still missed out on the bird’s eye view of the fireworks at The Palm and The World islands. It was a fantastic chance to show off the beautiful manmade island in the UAE. A daylight view taken from the skies would have clinched it. The television channels also missed out on interviews with the companies and officials involved in organising fireworks display. According to me the Burj Khalifa fireworks got the best coverage. The beautiful display at Dubai Festival City was completely missed by the television channels. When it came to The Palm and The World, the large quantity of fireworks in a few minutes did not give the perfect picture. I blame the inadequate television coverage. Also, it seemed that the fireworks management were not involved in the televising of the event. Basically the fireworks coverage was disappointment for people watching it on television.

From Mr R. Vasudevan

Dubai

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Soaked in the sea

I was mesmerised by the fireworks in Dubai. It was a cold winter night and my obsession with fireworks forced me to soak my self in the sea at Jumeriah beach to get a clearer view of the fireworks. I am glad UAE made a new world record but I am disappointed with the broken sequence of fireworks.

From Mr Mohammad Rehan Satti

Dubai

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