UPDATE

UAE welcomes New Year 2023 with fireworks, world record-breaking displays - as it happened

Gulf News brings New Year's Eve celebrations from across the UAE

Last updated:
Gulf News Report
7 MIN READ
People watch the Burj Khalifa fireworks.
People watch the Burj Khalifa fireworks.
Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News

Gulf News has brought live updates of the festivities to its readers - from Burj Khalifa, Global Village, Jumeirah Beach and from Sheikh Zayed Festival Abu Dhabi. Here’s how the New Year Eve events unfolded:

As it happened: New Year's Eve Burj Khalifa Show 2023

12:48 AM January 01, 2023

NYE fireworks and drone show at Sheikh Zayed Festival Abu Dhabi

12:34 AM January 01, 2023

New Year's Eve light show illuminates Burj Khalifa

12:28 AM January 01, 2023

Fireworks at Al Majaz in Sharjah

12:25 AM January 01, 2023

Fireworks galore near the iconic Burj Al Arab

12:18 AM January 01, 2023

Stunning fireworks and drone displays in RAK

Watch spectacular live fireworks and drone displays from Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. 

12:09 AM January 01, 2023

Spectacular firework displays 

12:05 AM January 01, 2023

Dazziling fireworks at Burj Khalifa 

11:55 PM December 31, 2022

We are together again. Masks off, smiles on

11:49 PM December 31, 2022

Countdown begins 

11:46 PM December 31, 2022

Festive vibe in Sharjah 

11:41 PM December 31, 2022

Celebrations at Sheikh Zayed Festival

11:36 PM December 31, 2022

People await for firework display

11:30 PM December 31, 2022

A father’s wish

The positive mood on New Year’s Eve is best exemplified by Kuwaiti father Sulaiman Alsallal, who came with his three sons – aged 11, 7 and 5 – to welcome 2023 at the foot of Burj Khalifa. He told Gulf News: “This is our first time to celebrate New Year in Dubai and it’s magical. My wish this New Year is for my sons to grow up as strong, respectful, intelligent and loving men.” 

11:27 PM December 31, 2022

Ensuring safety during celebrations

 

11:11 PM December 31, 2022

Traffic Update

https://twitter.com/DubaiPoliceHQ/status/1609266109336666113

10:56 PM December 31, 2022

Vibe before the much-awaited fireworks display

10:39 PM December 31, 2022

Excitement builds up at Burj Khalifa

We’re a little over an hour away from bidding goodbye to 2022 and welcoming 2023. Excitement and anticipation at Burj Khalifa are increasing, and what can we expect from this year’s show at the world’s tallest tower? 828 metres of fireworks 2,500 firing directions 287 firing positions 22,000 gallons of water in the air 344 underwater robots 145,000 watts of light power 4,000 watts of lasers

10:13 PM December 31, 2022

Road closure

10:07 PM December 31, 2022

Crowds gather at Sheikh Zayed Festival

10:05 PM December 31, 2022

Visitors throng Dubai Mall

 

09:49 PM December 31, 2022

Revellers gather at Dubai Mall

 

09:39 PM December 31, 2022

Fireworks at Dubai's Global Village 

09:31 PM December 31, 2022

Free bus service to Abu Dhabi

08:48 PM December 31, 2022

New Year celebrations at Sheikh Zayed Festival

08:46 PM December 31, 2022

Traffic Update

08:42 PM December 31, 2022

How Dubai Police handle security during NYE celebrations

08:35 PM December 31, 2022

Magical moment

Magic is in the air as we welcome the New Year, and no one can be more excited than the kids who – with their innocence and pure character – tell us that the changing of years bring with it happiness and renewed hope. 

Dubai-based entertainer and magician Rene Nocomora wows some kids at Dubai Mall before the marvelous fireworks at Burj Khalifa.

08:34 PM December 31, 2022

Al Ayyala Dance performance at Sheikh Zayed Festival

08:25 PM December 31, 2022

Securing celebrations

08:10 PM December 31, 2022

Early fireworks 

First of several fireworks at Global Village. The New Year festivities kicked off at 8pm (local time) on the main stage, coinciding with midnight in the Philippines before moving to Thailand (9pm), Bangladesh (10pm), India (10.30pm), Pakistan (11pm), UAE (12am) and finishing with Turkey (1am).

07:45 PM December 31, 2022

Road closure

Notification from Dubai Police advising residents of road closures in Dubai. Authorities also urged the public to cooperate with the police and adhere to traffic instructions to avoid congestion. They can call Dubai Police on 999 for emergencies and 901 for non-emergencies or approach any officer on site. 

07:39 PM December 31, 2022

Laser show at Sheikh Zayed Festival

07:28 PM December 31, 2022

Coming in droves

The crowd at Dubai Mall is getting bigger as merrymakers are coming in droves to take their reserved seats at restaurants with the best views of Burj Khalifa.

Mall security have set up barricades to direct the movement of people and to check that only those who made reservations can gain entry. Those with restaurants bookings have been given color-coded wristbands.

There are several public viewing areas, however, in Downtown Dubai, where entry is free of charge entry on a first-come, first-served basis.

07:25 PM December 31, 2022

Ensuring health and safety of guests

07:15 PM December 31, 2022

People await for spectacular fireworks

07:02 PM December 31, 2022

Vibe before the biggest event

06:57 PM December 31, 2022

Celebrations at Global Village 

06:31 PM December 31, 2022

Traffic Update 

06:28 PM December 31, 2022

Celebrations at Sheikh Zayed Festival

06:25 PM December 31, 2022

Fun time at Global Village

06:17 PM December 31, 2022

Aerial view of the Dubai Fountain

06:14 PM December 31, 2022

Entertainment at Global Village

06:10 PM December 31, 2022

UAE President shares well wishes for New Year

06:11 PM December 31, 2022

Safety and security first

Authorities ensure safety, security and accessibility are observed during New Year’s Eve celebrations. According to Dubai Police, a total of 10,597 personnel, 5,800 security guards, 1,420 volunteers, 3,651 patrols and vehicles, and 45 marine boats, are deployed at 30 locations where celebrations and fireworks will take place. This is on top of the 10,000 CCTVs employed to ease traffic movement and mobility of people. Teams from Dubai Police, Roads and Transport Authority, Civil Defence and the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services are at various locations in Dubai, especially in Burj Khalifa area. 

06:05 PM December 31, 2022

Aerial view of Burj Khalifa

05:57 PM December 31, 2022

People await for fireworks 

05:50 PM December 31, 2022

Dubai is ready to ring in 2023

05:45 PM December 31, 2022

Traffic diversion

05:32 PM December 31, 2022

Ensuring safety

05:28 PM December 31, 2022

Preparations at Dubai Festival City Mall

05:22 PM December 31, 2022

Face painting for kids

Jubaida Judiane, 43, face paint artist from the Philippines, works her magic, transforming kid’s faces into colourful tigers, cats, butterflies, unicorns, superheroes, including Spider-Man, Batman, and more. 

05:14 PM December 31, 2022

Timelapse - Crowd of visitors at Global Village

05:05 PM December 31, 2022

Service with a smile

This will be the third year straight that Filipino expat Ryan Sta Teresa and Indian national Nizan are working on New Year’s Eve. They will be away from their families when the clock strikes 12, but they said warm the company of their colleagues and knowing that their customers are satisfied are good enough to welcome the New Year on a happy note.

04:54 PM December 31, 2022

Kids activities at Global Village 

04:52 PM December 31, 2022

Visitors throng Downtown Dubai

04:49 PM December 31, 2022

Cloudy skies on New Year’s Eve

04:36 PM December 31, 2022

Revellers arrive at at Global Village

Follow traffic safety measures: Dubai Police

04:14 PM December 31, 2022

'Adhere to safety measures'

04:12 PM December 31, 2022

 

People start converging at Burj Park

 

04:04 PM December 31, 2022

Traffic Update: Al Asayel Street towards Burj Khalifa is now closed

04:01 PM December 31, 2022

 

Families reach early at Dubai Mall

 

03:55 PM December 31, 2022

 People arrive at Dubai Mall to witness the fireworks

03:45 PM December 31, 2022

Families arrive at Sharjah Corniche on New Years Eve

The UAE will bid adieu to 2022 and welcome 2023 with dazzling fireworks, world record-breaking pyrotechnic displays. In Dubai, residents and visitors will be spoilt for choice as fireworks will light up the night sky in over 30 locations across the city, with the traditional fireworks and laser show at Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest tower – at the centre of the celebrations.

The Capital will aim to break three Guinness World Records, including the largest fireworks show spanning 40 minutes. Other landmarks in Abu Dhabi will also have firework extravaganza.

Al Majaz Waterfront in Sharjah will also have an amazing firework display while Khorfakkan beach will host family-oriented activities. There will also be fireworks along Ajman Corniche and Umbrella Beach in Fujairah while Ras Al Khaimah will set a new world record for drones launching fireworks

Angel Tesorero, Senior Reporter ; Virendra Saklani, Chief Visual Journalist ; Ahmed Ramzan, Senior Visual Journalist ; Clint Egbert, Senior Visual Journalist ; Anas Thacharpadikkal, Senior Visual Journalist ; Irish Eden Belleza, Senior Visual Editor ; Balaram Menon, Senior Web Editor and Lekshmy Pavithran, Assistant Online Editor

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