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Wed, Jan 21, 2026 | Shaban 2, 1447 | Fajr 05:45 | DXB 
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- Published: Wed Dec 31, 2025, 7:33 AM
Happy New Year, UAE! Fireworks, drones light up skies as country welcomes 2026
By:Bahni BandyopadhyayAjanta PaulNasreen AbdullaKaren Ann MonsyWaheed AbbasAzza Al AliShihabWaad BarakatSM Ayaz ZakirSupreeta BalasubramanianArwa AlmazroueiYasmin HusseinMazhar Farooqui- Share:
Key Events
12:44 AM,Jan 1, 2026
Stunning drone formations
12:33 AM,Jan 1, 2026
Global Village celebrates
12:25 AM,Jan 1, 2026
Countdown at Dubai Frame
12:10 AM,Jan 1, 2026
Burj Khalifa fireworks
12:02 AM,Jan 1, 2026
UAE welcomes 2026
11:57 PM,Dec 31, 2025
Drone show in RAK
11:41 PM,Dec 31, 2025
SZR temporarily closed
11:14 PM,Dec 31, 2025
Pakistan ushers in 2026
10:53 PM,Dec 31, 2025
Another royal greeting
10:41 PM,Dec 31, 2025
India welcomes 2026
10:16 PM,Dec 31, 2025
Happy New Year, Bangladesh
9:27 PM,Dec 31, 2025
Sheikh Mohammed shares greetings
9:05 PM,Dec 31, 2025
Lower Financial Center Street closed
9:03 PM,Dec 31, 2025
Happy New Year, Thailand!
8:24 PM,Dec 31, 2025
RTA road closure
8:07 PM,Dec 31, 2025
It's 2026 in China...
7:31 PM,Dec 31, 2025
UAE President greets public
6:09 PM,Dec 31, 2025
Burj Khalifa lights up
5:53 PM,Dec 31, 2025
Another road closed
5:08 PM,Dec 31, 2025
Sydney welcomes 2026, remembers Bondi victims
4:12 PM,Dec 31, 2025
RTA closes road
4:06 PM,Dec 31, 2025
Traffic surges as Dubai gears up for NYE
3:00 PM,Dec 31, 2025
Jan 1 begins in New Zealand
2:00 PM,Dec 31, 2025
First place to usher in 2026
1:11 PM,Dec 31, 2025
10 countries to ring in New Year before UAE
12:56 PM,Dec 31, 2025
Remote work option, shorter hours for some employees
12:34 PM,Dec 31, 2025
Some bus services to be suspended
Summary
- Key locations around the UAE — such as Burj Khalifa and Al Majaz Waterfront — started preparing for the fireworks and shows happening later in the evening.
- Road closures planned by Dubai’s RTA started; motorists were asked to take alternative routes.
- Crowds started forming around popular New Year’s Eve spots across the country as families settled in prime spots to witness fireworks and other shows.
- Fireworks lit the sky at Global Village for 2026 in China — the first of seven shows marking the New Year in seven different countries.
- UAE Rulers shared New Year greetings and welcomed 2026.
- 2026 officially began in the UAE, the spectacular firework shows across the nation signaling a bright start to the New Year.
1:32 AM, Jan 01, 2026 1:19 AM, Jan 01, 2026 SZR reopens
1:06 AM, Jan 01, 2026 Heading back home
1:00 AM, Jan 01, 2026 Time to clean-up!
12:52 AM, Jan 01, 2026 12:44 AM, Jan 01, 2026 Stunning drone formations
12:37 AM, Jan 01, 2026 Fireworks in Abu Dhabi
12:33 AM, Jan 01, 2026 Global Village celebrates
12:25 AM, Jan 01, 2026 Countdown at Dubai Frame
12:19 AM, Jan 01, 2026 Celebrating from yachts
12:15 AM, Jan 01, 2026 Hoping for a glimpse
12:10 AM, Jan 01, 2026 Burj Khalifa fireworks
12:02 AM, Jan 01, 2026 UAE welcomes 2026
11:57 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Drone show in RAK
11:49 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Minutes before midnight
11:41 PM, Dec 31, 2025 SZR temporarily closed
11:34 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Watch responsibly
11:26 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Kadak chai powers New Year wait
11:24 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Pavements turn into viewing decks
11:14 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Pakistan ushers in 2026
11:04 PM, Dec 31, 2025 'This year, I am celebrating NYE'
11:00 PM, Dec 31, 2025 60 minutes to 2026
10:53 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Another royal greeting
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. Building on our achievements, we move forward to shape a brighter future for generations to come. Ourâ¦
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 31, 202510:41 PM, Dec 31, 2025 India welcomes 2026
10:38 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Traffic advisory issued
10:24 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Fireworks spots in Abu Dhabi
10:16 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Happy New Year, Bangladesh
10:07 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Meet a volunteer
10:00 PM, Dec 31, 2025 2 hours to go!
9:57 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Bonfires in the desert
9:41 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Traffic update
9:34 PM, Dec 31, 2025 First time to celebrate in Dubai
9:27 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Sheikh Mohammed shares greetings
9:11 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Playing games with family
9:05 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Lower Financial Center Street closed
9:05 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Experts at NYE in the desert!
9:03 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Happy New Year, Thailand!
8:58 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Generous surprise
8:52 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Drone show at Global Village
8:45 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Fireworks at the beach
8:40 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Watch Burj Khalifa fireworks live
8:38 PM, Dec 31, 2025 A touch of Bollywood at workers' event
8:24 PM, Dec 31, 2025 RTA road closure
8:23 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Living next to Burj Khalifa
8:12 PM, Dec 31, 2025 From pasta to biryani
8:07 PM, Dec 31, 2025 It's 2026 in China...
8:06 PM, Dec 31, 2025 From London to Abu Dhabi
7:52 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Scenes from Global Village
7:49 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Downtown Dubai puts on a show
7:42 PM, Dec 31, 2025 'Love and positive energy'
7:39 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Decorated tents and giving away marshmallows
7:31 PM, Dec 31, 2025 UAE President greets public
7:25 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Sneak peek of fireworks
7:10 PM, Dec 31, 2025 More than 150 cups of karak!
7:08 PM, Dec 31, 2025 How to stay safe in a crowd
6:49 PM, Dec 31, 2025 RTA continues road closure plan
اÙØ·ÙاÙا٠٠٠ØرصÙا عÙ٠ض٠ا٠اÙسÙابÙØ© اÙتÙÙÙÙ ÙسÙا٠ة اÙج٠Ùع Ø®Ùا٠ÙÙÙØ© رأس اÙسÙØ© اÙÙ ÙÙادÙØ© 2026Ø Ø¨Ø¯Ø£Øª Ùر٠#ÙÙئة_اÙطرÙ_Ù_اÙÙ ÙاصÙات بإدارة ÙتÙظÙ٠اÙØرÙØ© اÙ٠رÙرÙØ© ÙØ£Ùظ٠ة اÙÙÙÙØ ÙÙ٠خطة ٠رÙرÙØ© ÙتشغÙÙÙØ© ٠تÙا٠ÙØ©Ø ÙباÙتÙسÙ٠اÙ٠باشر ٠ع اÙجÙات اÙ٠عÙÙØ© ÙاÙشرÙاء اÙاستراتÙجÙÙÙ.⦠pic.twitter.com/2oca2T0poy
— RTA (@rta_dubai) December 31, 20256:43 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Good spots gone already?
6:40 PM, Dec 31, 2025 No rest for volunteers!
6:32 PM, Dec 31, 2025 'Lucky to call Dubai our home'
6:09 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Burj Khalifa lights up
6:04 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Maghrib prayer
6:00 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Al Majaz Waterfront gets ready for celebrations
5:53 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Another road closed
#Traffic_Update | Closure of Mohammed Bin Rashid Blvd.
— Dubai Policeشرطة دب٠(@DubaiPoliceHQ) December 31, 2025
#MyDubaiNewYear pic.twitter.com/et1j98IeRv5:44 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Downtown Dubai's free public viewing areas
5:43 PM, Dec 31, 2025 'Something special' in RAK
5:39 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Hotels at capacity
5:34 PM, Dec 31, 2025 From SRK to Maroon 5
5:30 PM, Dec 31, 2025 NYE festivities for workers
5:17 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Sunset on New Year's Eve
5:08 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Sydney welcomes 2026, remembers Bondi victims
4:58 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Cultural celebrations at Sheikh Zayed Festival
4:50 PM, Dec 31, 2025 NYE at Burj Khalifa
4:41 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Cars crawl along Sheikh Zayed Road
4:33 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Beating the traffic by leaving town
4:27 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Dubai Metro prepared for closures
4:24 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Stay safe on the roads!
4:16 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Crowds line up outside Global Village
4:12 PM, Dec 31, 2025 RTA closes road
4:06 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Traffic surges as Dubai gears up for NYE
3:41 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Parking spots in RAK
3:39 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Hop on, hop off
3:36 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Beeline to enter Global Village
3:26 PM, Dec 31, 2025 NYE celebration spots in RAK
3:19 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Not allowed: Party sprays, reckless driving
3:12 PM, Dec 31, 2025 The confusion about Kiribati explained
3:00 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Jan 1 begins in New Zealand
2:55 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Road closures in JBR
2:46 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Don't be late for your flight
2:43 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Enjoy, but stay safe!
2:40 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Where to park?
2:32 PM, Dec 31, 2025 To head back from celebrations...
2:26 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Leave your car at home
2:16 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Fewer things to worry about on Jan 1
2:08 PM, Dec 31, 2025 The Bollywood touch
2:00 PM, Dec 31, 2025 First place to usher in 2026
1:53 PM, Dec 31, 2025 All eyes on Burj Khalifa
1:34 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Traffic build-up begins
1:20 PM, Dec 31, 2025 1:15 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Partying on a yacht tonight?
1:11 PM, Dec 31, 2025 10 countries to ring in New Year before UAE
1:05 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Traffic restrictions in Abu Dhabi
12:56 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Remote work option, shorter hours for some employees
12:38 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Ready for the New Year ride?
12:34 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Some bus services to be suspended
12:30 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Calm before the storm... of fireworks
12:25 PM, Dec 31, 2025 7 New Year countdowns in one night
12:19 PM, Dec 31, 2025 12:15 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Secret preparations of Burj Khalifa fireworks
12:05 PM, Dec 31, 2025 New Year celebrations for workers
12:03 PM, Dec 31, 2025 Fuel prices drop in January
11:47 AM, Dec 31, 2025 Hack to keep the New Year resolutions
11:32 AM, Dec 31, 2025 2 New Years in one day?
11:31 AM, Dec 31, 2025 Which place will celebrate New Year last?
11:20 AM, Dec 31, 2025 Which place will celebrate New Year first?
Kiribati: the country that broke the map ðâ¨
— Brilliant Maps (@BrilliantMaps) October 12, 2025
This tiny island nation is massive: not in land, but in spread.
Kiribati is made up of 33 coral atolls scattered across 3.5 million km² of ocean, bigger than India! ð®ð
Oh, and get this: Kiribati is the only country that sits in⦠pic.twitter.com/11yksQ3KDf11:02 AM, Dec 31, 2025 Burj Khalifa fireworks tonight
11:00 AM, Dec 31, 2025 Restaurants decked out for New Year
10:34 AM, Dec 31, 2025 14 hours before show!
10:17 AM, Dec 31, 2025 Clear signage at Dubai Mall
9:59 AM, Dec 31, 2025 Sharjah ready to welcome 2026 with fireworks
9:50 AM, Dec 31, 2025 How to plan your day
9:40 AM, Dec 31, 2025 What the day holds ahead
9:12 AM, Dec 31, 2025 What's making headlines on the last day of the year?
9:09 AM, Dec 31, 2025 Heading out to work?
8:31 AM, Dec 31, 2025 Lowest temperature recorded
8:09 AM, Dec 31, 2025 What's your morning looking like?
7:57 AM, Dec 31, 2025 Windy last day
7:47 AM, Dec 31, 2025 Will it rain on New Year's Eve?
7:30 AM, Dec 31, 2025
