President Sheikh Mohamed shared his New Year's greetings on Wednesday, wishing everyone a prosperous 2026.
Sheikh Mohamed and other UAE leaders also shared their greetings with the leaders of countries across the world.
“Best wishes on the occasion of the new year. As we come together in celebration, let us welcome the year ahead with renewed hope and determination in efforts to foster unity, progress and prosperity for all,” Sheikh Mohamed wrote on X.
The state news agency Wam reported that Sheikh Mohamed had sent his greetings to “presidents, kings and princes of countries around the world, wishing them continued health and prosperity for their nations”.
Similar messages were sent by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, added Wam.
Sheikh Mohammed also spoke of his desire to wish everyone “happiness, success and achievement”, in a post on social media.
“We are optimistic for a new year … a year filled with practical achievement, economic superiority, international co-operation and prosperity for our noble people,” he said.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, also shared his New Year's greetings on social media.
"As we welcome 2026, I extend my greetings to our leadership and to the people of the UAE, praying to Allah that the new year brings blessings, prosperity, and peace for all," he wrote on X.
"Building on our achievements, we move forward to shape a brighter future for generations to come. Our values and unity remain our source of pride, and with ambitions that know no bounds, we continue to forge leadership and build the future."
New Year’s Eve celebrations included traditional fireworks displays in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah attracting thousands of revellers.
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Fireworks from Festival City in Dubai to ring in the new year. Antonie Robertson / The National -
The display at Festival City in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Fireworks explode above Festival City, Dubai, to celebrate the new year. Antonie Robertson / The National -
The fireworks display from the Mother of the Nation Festival along the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
Crowds gather on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
Crowds gather near the Burj Khalifa during New Year's celebrations in Dubai. Reuters -
The display at Burj Khalifa illuminates the sky in Dubai. Reuters -
Visitors at the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
The final sunset of 2025 over the Dubai skyline. Antonie Robertson / The National
Concerts by artists such as John Legend, performing at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, and Maroon 5 – playing at Atlantis The Palm – were also among the celebrations.
Road closures in Dubai
Dubai closed major roads early, extending Metro hours and posting thousands of emergency workers across the emirate to help manage the celebrations.
The plan involved 9,884 police officers, 1,900 medical staff, 1,754 firefighters and 635 ambulance workers, who helped the public to ring in the new year safely. A fully equipped field hospital, with a paediatric care section, was in operation in the Burj Khalifa area.
Seven medical sites were set up across various locations in co-ordination with Dubai Ambulance Services. Dubai welcomed tens of thousands of revellers amid a sustained population boom and the city's growing status as a winter tourism destination.
High demand
The popular McGettigan’s chain of restaurants and bars had sold out all of its outdoor seating areas, and reported an increase in presale tickets for the JLT and Madinat Jumeirah venues.
“Across McGettigan’s Group we’re excited for a very strong New Year’s Eve – it’s traditionally one of our busiest and most fun nights,” said Dennis McGettigan, chief executive of the McGettigan Group.
David Allan, who is cluster general manager at Radisson Blu Hotels in Dubai Waterfront, Dubai Canal View and the Radisson Resort, Ras Al Khaimah, said it was a busy winter season.
“So far, the winter season has been brilliant. November was fantastic and it is always a strong month, but it was even better than we expected.
“There's been really high occupancies right the way through, and Christmas and New Year in particular. We've been essentially full for the whole period, which is great.
“This year we've seen a little bit higher demand from Europeans in our city centre hotels over New Year, and the Russian demand is still exceptionally strong. Our length of stay is up and we've got a lot of people staying right across Christmas and New Year.
“The Business Bay Hotels just simply by nature of location have been the busiest. There has been a lot of demand from people wanting to be as close to Downtown as possible at this time of year so all the rooms were booked up quite early.”
New Year holiday
New Year's Day will be a holiday for public and private sector employees in the UAE, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (Fahr) announced last month.
Friday, January 2, will also be a remote-work day for federal government employees, except those whose roles require them to be in their workplaces.
Meanwhile, Friday prayers will be held at 12.45pm across the country from January 2, rather than 1.15pm.
New Year celebrations around the world
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Fireworks explode over Sydney Harbour Bridge to mark the New Year in Australia. Reuters -
People watch New Year’s Day celebration fireworks at the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore. Reuters -
Fireworks light up the Taiwan skyline and Taipei 101 tower. Getty Images -
Revellers watch fireworks during celebrations in Makati, Metro Manila, the Philippines. AFP -
A street performer takes part in the 'Procession of Light' in the centre of Dublin, Ireland. PA -
Countdown clocks are projected on to the buildings of Hong Kong. AP -
A monk prays before the New Year at the Zojoji Buddhist temple in Tokyo, Japan. AP -
Fireworks light up the sky in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Getty Images -
Visitors pray in front of lanterns with the New Year's wishes of Buddhists attached, at Jogyesa Temple in central Seoul, South Korea. AFP -
Revellers pose for a picture near illuminated decorations in Mumbai, India. AP -
Local residents watch the annual carbide shooting, firing footballs from milk churns turned into cannon, during New Year's Eve celebrations in Ommen, the Netherlands. EPA -
Trader Peter Tuchman wears 2026 glasses on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. AFP -
People turn on their mobile phones' torches as they observe a minute's silence for the victims of the Bondi Beach shooting, before the fireworks display in Sydney. AFP -
Celebrations at the Juyongguan Great Wall in Beijing, China. Getty Images -
Confetti drops on people at Times Square, during New Year’s Eve celebrations in New York City. Reuters -
Fireworks to celebrate the New Year explode on Copacabana Beach during celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. AFP -
People wear '2026' glasses during New Year's celebrations in Lusail, Qatar. Reuters -
Fireworks expode over the Colosseum in central Rome during New Year celebrations. AFP -
Fireworks explode during the New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters -
Fireworks explode over Big Ben and the London Eye to mark the New Year's celebrations, in London. Reuters
