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New Year in Abu Dhabi is always special, not just for the significance of the holiday, which commemorates new beginnings and aspirations. From the towering skyline to the dazzling cityscape, the metropolis of the Land of Emirates Abu Dhabi pulls out all the stops when it comes to the New Year countdown to ensure an unforgettable passing of the year.
Fireworks form an integral part of these celebrations in Abu Dhabi as the entire sky lights up in different colours with a number of free pyrotechnic displays. For those looking to travel to Abu Dhabi for the New Year, here is our recommendation of the top spots to best enjoy and watch the fireworks of Abu Dhabi in 2023.
NYE fireworks in Abu Dhabi 2023
The fireworks displays in Abu Dhabi are not centralised and can be enjoyed from many places within the city. Visitors and residents alike can participate in fun events while enjoying the pyrotechnic displays all night long.
Yas Island
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Renowned for hosting numerous high-profile attractions such as Ferrari World, Warner Bros World, Yas Waterworld, and Yas Marina (among countless others), the turning of the year celebrations have always been marked by the spectacular fireworks display. Every year, the Yas Bay Waterfront lights up for New Year on Yas Island, offering an electrifying mix of al fresco dining, world-class entertainment and unique leisure experiences. What’s more, the entrance fee is non-existent.
Abu Dhabi Corniche
Stretching over eight kilometres of manicured waterfront filled with cafés and restaurants and overlooking the stunning, lifeguarded Corniche Beach, Abu Dhabi Corniche is the city’s favourite spot to observe fireworks for different festivities, including the New Year. As the fireworks illuminate the night sky, their reflections can also be seen on the waters below, adding more luminance, vibrancy and colour to the occasion. There are more than 1,100 free parking spaces within a five-minute walk of the beach, with entry to the family and singles sections costing AED 10. Entry to the public beach is free.
Al Maryah Island
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Al Maryah Island, located at the heart of the city, hosts a series of blockbuster New Year’s Eve activities, including engaging activities and workshops for the little ones, exciting aerial acts, world-class performances by celebrities, premium F&B experiences, and breathtaking fireworks finale. Everybody who’s anybody has traditionally attended the end-of-year festivities in Al Maryah Island when they’re in Abu Dhabi. This year, they plan to hold a spectacular musical show which will start at 7 pm and until 1 am. The show will also be accompanied by a dazzling pyrotechnic show that serves as a magnet attracting everyone from celebrities, all drawn to the liveliness of the festivities.
Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival
The Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival is essentially an event exhibiting the UAE’s heritage, highlighting the history and union of the UAE. Located at Al Wathba, this festival has become one of the must-visit places as it provides an all-in-one package to celebrate the new year. The organizing committee of the Sheikh Zayed Festival revealed that they had planned to hold a 40-minute fireworks show at the event as a part of the 2023 NYE celebrations. The show is set to break three Guinness World Records in quantity, time, and formation. The show will also be supplemented by an unmanned aerial vehicle performance that will light up the sky of Al Wathba.
Visitors can enjoy other various activities, including concerts, competitions, and entertaining attractions while waiting for the countdown. The festival itself opens at 4 PM every day. It only costs AED 5 to enter the festival and witness the spectacular fireworks from this area.
Hazza bin Zayed Stadium
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The Hazza bin Zayed Stadium is an iconic state-of-the-art football stadium that traditionally hosts one of Abu Dhabi’s impressive new year celebrations. Assuming the authorities give their go-ahead, numerous fireworks displays will once again light up the night sky as the countdown to the new year reverberates in and around the stadium. The 25,000-seat stadium is one of Al Ain’s tallest buildings and a recognisable landmark.
Saadiyat Island
Saadiyat Island is the perfect place to enjoy the fireworks this New Year, especially with its collection of top-rated resorts nearby. Hotels such as St. Regis and Hilton have an array of parties and fun activities planned for all commemorating the New Year, along with the Saadiyat Beach club. Saadiyat Island lights up with pyrotechnic displays, with multiple viewing areas across the island.
