Large-scale celebrations will take place across the UAE to ring in 2026, from concerts to festive activities. Expect plenty of fireworks, laser displays and drone shows to elevate the celebrations – including several record-breaking spectacles.
Here are all the firework shows confirmed around the Emirates so far. More locations are expected to be announced.
Abu Dhabi
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
The Abu Dhabi landmark is hosting a New Year's Eve party led by multiple-Grammy-winner John Legend. The evening will begin with a welcome reception under the hotel's Grand Dome following by a gala dinner catered by its award-winning dining venues, including two restaurants with Michelin-stars, before Legend takes the stage to help ring in the New Year along with a fireworks show. Celebrations will continue into the morning with an after-party at Palace Terrace, featuring DJs and live entertainment.
Tickets start at Dh3,500 per person.
Liwa Festival
Those visiting Liwa Festival in Al Dhafra will be able to enjoy a fireworks show at midnight. Aside from those at the festival itself, residents and visitors can watch the display from all the main areas around Tal Moreeb dune, Liwa Festival and Liwa Village.
The festival runs until January 3. Tickets are Dh10.
Yas Bay Waterfront
The waterfront on Yas Bay will have two shows to ring in the new year, one during the traditional countdown to midnight, the other earlier on, at 9pm. Guests can watch for free, but viewing from the pier is restricted to guests with restaurant reservations. Outlets include Asia Asia, Bushra by Buddha-Bar, Central, LSB, Siddhartha and Zeera.
Sheikh Zayed Festival
The Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival has been setting Guinness World Records with its firework and drone shows every year – and organisers are promising new records this year too. A drone shows featuring 3D light formations will begin at 11.30pm followed by a fireworks display at midnight.
One of Abu Dhabi’s largest annual cultural events, the festival brings together heritage, entertainment and global culture over five months. The festival grounds will feature expanded international pavilions, an ice-skating rink, amusement park and a Heritage Village highlighting traditional crafts, falconry and camel racing.
Sheikh Zayed Festival runs until March 22. Entry is Dh10.
Dubai
Burj Khalifa
The most visited New Year’s Eve fireworks show in the UAE is Burj Khalifa’s. The year-end display promises to be bigger and better this year. Designated free public viewing areas in Downtown Dubai will open at 5pm on a first-come, first-served basis. Major roads in the area will close from 4pm. Dubai's Roads and Transport Authorities is expected to announce public transport operational hours and stoppages soon.
For those looking for a more catered celebration, Burj Park in Downtown Dubai is hosting a ticketed New Year's Eve party with unfiltered views of the fireworks and the synchronised Dubai Fountain show. There will be live entertainment, children’s workshops and food and beverage options as revellers count down to 2026. This year, celebrations include a Bollywood twist, with shows produced by Frontstage, owned by megastar Shah Rukh Khan.
Burj Park opens at noon. Tickets are Dh557 for children and Dh997 for adults. Children under 5 enter for free.
Beyond New Year's Eve celebrations, the party continues for a week until January 7 in Downtown Dubai stretching across several locations – from Burj Khalifa lake to Dubai Mall promenade – with a daily grand parade with floats, performers and puppets showcasing UAE culture. Live entertainment, aerial displays and immersive light and laser shows will also celebrate Dubai’s past, present and future, developer Emaar said.
Atlantis The Palm and Atlantis The Royal
Revellers in Dubai will welcome the new year alongside Maroon 5 who are returning to the UAE after a year for Atlantis The Palm's annual New Year's Eve gala.
The chart-topping pop group will join in the count down to 2026 with an open-air performance, treating guests to some of their greatest hits such as Moves Like Jagger, She Will Be Loved, This Love, Payphone, Maps and more. The evening will culminate with a fireworks display spanning from Atlantis The Palm to the Atlantis The Royal in what is set to be one of the grandest end-of-year celebrations in Dubai.
Festivities will begin at 6pm on December 31 with tickets starting at Dh4,500 for children aged 4 to 13, and Dh6,500 for those 14 years and above. Sky Suites have also been introduced this year, featuring private butlers, starting at Dh200,000 for up to 10 guests.
J1 Beach
Located in La Mer South, this elevated sea-facing dining district is hosting its own fireworks show, and diners at its 12 restaurants and beach clubs will also have a vantage point of the Burj Khalifa display in the distance. Each restaurant is hosting its own celebration to ring in the new year, at varying prices.
The Beach, JBR
Whether watching from the beach or the waterfront of nearby Bluewaters Island, there are plenty of good viewpoints for the fireworks that will light up the entire beachfront at midnight. You could reserve a table at many of the restaurants that are offering various packages, or take in the festivities at the free public areas, but find a good spot early as large crowds are expected in the area.
There will also be a drone show for the rest of the festive season with more than 1,000 drones lighting up the waterfront at 8pm and 10pm each night.
Expo City, Dubai
The site is hosting celebrations centred around the striking Al Wasl Plaza. The evening will begin with a celebration for families at 8pm, featuring a playlist of children's music, a confetti-blast countdown and a projection on Al Wasl dome, the world's largest interactive and immersive surface. This will be followed by the countdown at midnight and a fireworks display.
Tickets are Dh150 per person.
Al Seef
In Old Dubai, head to Al Seef, the family and shopping destination known for its rustic vibe and Arabian-style design for a fireworks show at midnight. While you wait, enjoy several dining options including the Emirati eatery Al Fanar Seafood, Nablus and Doors Freestyle Grill.
JA Beach Hotel
One of the oldest hotels in the UAE, JA Beach Hotel is hosting a Great Gatsby gala featuring a glamorous 1920s vibe with live bands, DJs and performers. At midnight, the sky above the resort's beach will light up with a fireworks show.
Don your most eye-catching attire as Palmito Garden is transformed into a glittering haven. The celebration kicks off with a sumptuous dinner paired with free-flowing drinks and dazzling performances from live bands, DJs, and dancers.
Ras Al Khaimah
Al Marjan Island and Al Hamra Beach
For three years in a row, Ras Al Khaimah has been setting its own firework and drone show records on New Year's Eve. The tradition looks set to continue this year with a display set to transform the skies above Al Marjan Island and Al Hamra Beach.
Guinness World Record-certified feats already include the longest chain of aquatic floating fireworks, spanning 5.8km, and the longest straight-line drones display, a total length of 2km.
Al Marjan Island waterfront will also double as a festive arena, with dedicated areas for families and bachelors. There will be live music performances, children's activities and food trucks, as well as a dedicated camping area.
Sharjah
Al Majaz Waterfront
Celebrations will return to Sharjah at this family-friendly destination, which is set to continue its annual New Year's Eve tradition. Besides festivities and attractions, a five-minute fireworks show will ring in 2026.
Khor Fakkan Beach
The outdoor destination and leisure complex will host celebrations, as well as a 10-minute fireworks show at midnight.
Al Heera Beach
A 10-minute fireworks show will light up this beachfront destination, known for its dining options and entertainment experiences, on New Year's Eve.
