Record-breaking fireworks and laser shows lit up the night skies across the UAE to welcome the New Year.
Burj Khalifa in Downtown Dubai became the showstopper, as the world’s tallest tower shone brightly in a dazzling array of colours and lights on the stroke of midnight.
Hundreds of thousands braved the traffic to claim the best spot in Downtown at Dubai Mall as early as 4pm as vantage points for The Fountain and Burj Khalifa turned into a sea of people wearing glitter and glam for the occasion.
Pyrotechnic displays were set up across the emirates, including from Atlantis The Palm, La Mer, Bluewaters Island and Burj Al Arab.
As the first new year’s celebrations without any coronavirus restrictions in place, and with perfect weather playing out in favour of outdoor fun, families turned out in huge numbers to join the festivities.
Yas Island in Abu Dhabi offered dual fun for onlookers with fireworks displays at 9pm and at midnight, while Al Maryah Island and the Corniche also had fireworks at midnight.
Global Village wooed one of the biggest crowds with seven sets of fireworks coinciding with seven time zones across the world.
In Al Wathba, a 40-minute drive from Abu Dhabi, a 40-minute fireworks display and show featuring 3,000 drones broke a record in volume, duration and form.
Ras Al Khaimah hosted another record-breaking fireworks show featuring pyro drones, nano lights, colours and shapes along the 4.7km long waterfront between Al Marjan Island and Al Hamra Village.
Across the UAE, beach clubs and bars, restaurants and food chains, public parks and shopping malls were packed as people lapped up pricey as well as pocket-friendly dining and entertainment options to ring in the New Year.
Hope for a better year
From having a safe and healthy year to hopes of finding new jobs and losing weight topped some of the New Year wishes of residents.
Indian couple Vinay Jain and his wife Rupali Jain, both IT professionals in Abu Dhabi, who were at Yas Bay to ring-in the New Year, hoped for a safe and prosperous 2023.
“I want to learn Arabic this year,” said Mr Jain.
Rupali said she is aiming to lose weight in 2023. “I hope it won’t remain just a wish,” she said.
Her mother Bala Jain was visiting Abu Dhabi to celebrate the New Year with her daughter and eight-year old grandson, Ritvik.
“I want everyone to enjoy peace and happiness this year. We had a tough few years before of Covid,” said Ms Jain who lives in Delhi, India.
Joao Troncao and Marta Lourenco from Portugal moved to the UAE two weeks ago wants to make the country their home this year.
“We hardly know this place. Everything feels new here. We want to make this our home in 2023,” said Mr Troncao, who works as a creative director.
For Kartik Raina, 19, who is pursuing an economics degree at the University of Bath, celebrating the New Year with parents in Abu Dhabi was special.
“It is nice to hang out with family and friends,” he said.
“My wish for the New Year is to get an investment banking internship.”
His friend Ishaan Kumar, 17, a Grade 12 student of the Dubai International Academy, said fitness and admission to a leading college are his New Year wishes.
“2022 was a good year for me. I want to hit the gym more often. Also, I hope I will get into a good university in India.”
Turkish couple Eldeniz and Yaroslava Kurean, who have a 3-year old daughter called Sophie, wished for peace and prosperity in 2023.
“We wanted to enjoy this weather and see the fireworks. Abu Dhabi is a great place for family and we want to just say happy and healthy this year,” said Mr Kurean, an IT professional.
New year celebrations around the world - in pictures
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The Times Square New Year's Eve Ball drops during New Year's celebration in Times Square in New York. AP Photo -
Women pose for photo on New Year's Eve at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. AFP -
Fireworks at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Reuters -
A reveller at the New Year's Eve celebrations in Times Square in New York. AP Photo -
A man celebrates the start of the New Year watching fireworks explode over Santos Bay in Brazil. AP Photo -
A fireworks display on Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea. AFP -
Revellers in Times Square, New York. AP Photo -
Fireworks in Santos, Brazil. Reuters -
Fireworks mark the new year behind Saint Georges Castle in Lisbon. AP Photo -
Fireworks in Baghdad. Reuters -
New Year's Eve celebrations in central Moscow. Reuters -
A fireworks display in Karachi. AFP -
Fireworks in Karachi. AFP -
A Viking-themed parade in aid of charities and local community groups in Flamborough, Yorkshire, in the UK. -
Fireworks next to the lit-up Lotus Tower during celebrations in Colombo. AFP -
Fireworks over the Selamat Datang (Welcome) Monument at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in Jakarta. AFP -
Hundreds attend a water and laser show on the main square in Graz, Austria. AFP -
New Year celebrations outside the 3Arena in Dublin. PA -
Fireworks at North Wall Quay in Dublin. PA -
Celebrations outside the 3Arena in Dublin. PA -
Revellers release balloons in Wuhan, China. Getty -
New Year's Eve celebrations in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Getty -
A crowded business area ahead of the new year in Nanning, China. AFP -
Fireworks in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Getty -
Celebrations in Jakarta. EPA -
Thousands gather in Jakarta. EPA -
Fireworks bring in the new year at Marina Bay in Singapore. Reuters -
Crowds wait for the countdown to 2023 at Marina Bay in Singapore. Reuters -
Fireworks explode over buildings during celebrations in Makati, Philippines. Getty -
Revellers in Quezon City, Philippines. Reuters -
Fireworks light up the sky over the Xiyou World theme park in Huaian, China. AFP -
Fireworks explode over the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters -
The countdown to the new year in Bangkok. Getty -
Fireworks explode over Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) in Bangkok. Reuters -
Fireworks over Chao Phraya river in Bangkok. Reuters -
Buddhists pray at Wat Suthat Thepwararam temple in Bangkok. Reuters -
Fireworks light up the sky over Manila. AFP -
Balloons are released in Wuhan, China. Reuters -
Fireworks over Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong to mark the new year. Reuters -
Selfies are taken at the main roundabout in Jakarta. EPA -
Fireworks over Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia. Getty -
Fireworks and light effects illuminate the sky during a downpour of rain from the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan. EPA -
Celebrations in Taipei. Getty -
Fireworks over Manila. AFP -
New Year's Eve in Wuhan. Reuters -
Celebrations after midnight in Seoul, South Korea. AFP -
Fireworks Sydney Harbour Bridge. AP -
More than one million crowded Sydney’s waterfront for a celebration based around the themes of diversity and inclusion. Reuters -
More than 7,000 fireworks were launched from Sydney Harbour Bridge and a further 2,000 from the nearby Opera House. AFP -
Fireworks explode over the Sky Tower in Auckland, as celebrations begin in New Zealand. AP -
Sri Lankans writing '2023' with firecrackers during New Year's Eve celebrations in Colombo. EPA
