By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 3 min read
Where are the New Year’s Eve fireworks in the UAE?
The 2026 venue list is not out yet. It is announced by each emirate close to the date, and this page is updated then. The 2025 list is a guide to what to expect.
| Emirate | 2025 viewing spots |
|---|---|
| Dubai | Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, Dubai Frame, Expo City Dubai, Global Village, Bluewaters, Al Seef, Dubai Festival City, Hatta, Atlantis The Palm, Marsa Al Arab |
| Ras Al Khaimah | Coast between Al Marjan Island and Al Hamra |
| Abu Dhabi | Al Wathba festival site, and the Corniche |
| Sharjah | Al Majaz Waterfront, Al Heera Beach, Khorfakkan Beach |
| Ajman | Ajman Corniche, Ajman Boulevard and other sites |
Which spots can a car reach close to midnight?
Spots outside the Downtown closure zone are the easiest. Read New Year’s Eve in Dubai: road closures for the timings. In short, Downtown and Sheikh Zayed Road close in stages, while the Creek, Festival City and the Palm stay reachable for longer.
Burj Khalifa and Downtown: worth it without a car?
Burj Khalifa is the best known view and the hardest exit. Arrive early on foot or by Metro, and leave on foot to a pickup point outside the zone. A car cannot enter the closed streets, so do not expect a door-to-door finish.
Palm Jumeirah, JBR and Dubai Marina
Atlantis The Palm and Bluewaters were on the 2025 list. Expect queues on the roads off the Palm after midnight, and crowds on foot around JBR and the Marina Walk. Choose a pickup point away from the beach front and tell your driver before you leave. Our Palm Jumeirah transfer guide shows how the route works.
Dubai Festival City and the Creek
Dubai Festival City was on the 2025 list. It sits on the Creek near Al Garhoud, close to DXB, and has its own car parks. It is a calmer choice for families, and the drive back toward Deira and the airport is short.
Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi fireworks: the drive from Dubai
Ras Al Khaimah’s main show in 2025 ran along the coast from Al Marjan Island to Al Hamra. The drive from Dubai is long, and the road home after midnight is slow, so book a driver who waits. Abu Dhabi’s festival show at Al Wathba is farther still. Read Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah for the route.
Booking a driver for New Year’s Eve: what to agree in advance
- The drop-off point and a different pickup point.
- The waiting time, in writing.
- A phone number that works in a crowd.
- Whether the venue issues access passes.
Send these on WhatsApp through our New Year’s Eve chauffeur page or the events service. A limousine service or car with driver both work. For daytime festivals, see the Dubai Shopping Festival driver guide and Global Village timings. More dates are in the UAE events calendar, and the holiday mood is in Christmas in Dubai.
Photos in this guide
Fireworks cascading down Burj Khalifa at night in Downtown DubaiIyesthroughlens / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Palm Jumeirah beach and trunk seen from Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort and SpaCT Cooper / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
JBR beach with the Palm Jumeirah and hotels on the horizon, seen from Jumeirah Beach ResidenceGuilhem Vellut / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
The seafront and palm-lined road on Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah, looking out over the GulfTashmetova808 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
