Abu Dhabi ushered in 2026 with a large-scale New Year’s Eve celebration at the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba, featuring a record-breaking fireworks display and what organisers described as the world’s largest coordinated drone show.
The celebrations on 31 December drew more than 163,000 visitors to the festival grounds, while authorities estimated that over half a million people watched the event from surrounding public areas. Officials said the turnout made it one of the largest New Year celebrations ever staged in the UAE capital.
At the centre of the event was a 62-minute continuous fireworks display, which organisers said surpassed previous global benchmarks for duration. The fireworks were launched in five carefully planned phases, beginning at 8:00pm and building towards a midnight finale. Advanced synchronisation systems and high-precision launch technologies were used to coordinate the display across a wide section of the Al Wathba skyline.
Alongside the fireworks, a 20-minute drone light show featuring 6,500 drones unfolded above the festival site. The drones flew in synchronised formations, creating nine large-scale aerial images that organisers said had never been displayed before. The drone performance was integrated with a digital countdown and timed precisely with the fireworks, forming a single, continuous visual sequence.
Festival organisers said the New Year programme was designed to set or exceed five Guinness World Records, including records for the longest continuous fireworks display and the largest drone light show. Other record attempts included the first large-scale integration of drones with fireworks, the largest number of newly unveiled drone formations, and the longest combined New Year celebration staged over multiple phases.
Guinness World Records adjudicators are expected to review technical data, timing logs and aerial footage before confirming whether the records have been officially recognised.
Beyond the headline displays, the celebrations highlighted Emirati heritage and culture. Traditional performances such as Al Ayala, Al Razfa and Al Nadooba were staged throughout the evening, alongside international cultural shows, carnival-style parades and live entertainment. Organisers said the programme was designed to appeal to visitors of all ages.
A key attraction this year was the opening of “Wonderland”, a newly developed entertainment zone within the festival grounds. The area featured amusement rides, interactive installations and family-friendly activities, adding a new dimension to the festival’s offerings.
To manage the large crowds, the Higher Organising Committee expanded operational and security arrangements. Additional entry and exit gates were opened, pedestrian walkways were widened, and transport access was adjusted to ease congestion. Medical teams, emergency services and crowd-control units were deployed across the venue. Officials said entry was temporarily restricted once the site reached full capacity.
Authorities said the smooth execution of the event reflected months of planning and coordination among government agencies, security forces and festival organisers.
Festival officials said the scale and complexity of the celebrations underscored Abu Dhabi’s growing role as a global destination for major cultural and tourism events. The New Year programme was supported by a wide range of sponsors, strategic partners and international pavilions, reflecting strong international participation.
The Sheikh Zayed Festival, held annually in Al Wathba, is one of the UAE’s flagship cultural events. It aims to celebrate the country’s heritage while embracing innovation, combining traditional arts with modern technology and large-scale public entertainment.
Officials said the record-setting New Year celebrations were part of a broader strategy to position Abu Dhabi as a hub for culture, innovation and global tourism, capable of hosting world-class events that attract international attention.
