VIDEO: UAE welcomes New Year 2023 with spectacular fireworks at all landmarks
A combo image shows New Year's Eve fireworks light the landmark Burj Khalifa tower at midnight in Dubai. AFP
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
The year 2023 is being warmly greeted in the UAE. The New Year's Eve celebrations tonight occasioned a magnificent affair throughout the Emirates, featuring several world record bids, fireworks in dozens of places, drone shows, and celebrity concerts.
For the first time since the pandemic, revellers rang in 2023 without being subjected to Covid-related limitations. Parties celebrated the conclusion of a significant year for the nation with record-breaking fireworks shows.
A 40-minute fireworks show in Abu Dhabi attempted to break three records in quantity, time and formation. A giant drone show, using more than 3,000 unmanned aerial vehicles lit up the skies of Al Wathba.In Dubai, massive crowds gathered in Downtown to witness the Burj Khalifa's spectacular fireworks display as it was lit up. Sharjah rang in the 2023 New Year with firework displays and shows on the Al Majaz waterfront.
The sky of Ajman Corniche was lit up with a massive fireworks show, while Ras Al Khaimah put on a 12-minute fireworks display in an effort to beat its own record! In Fujairah and Umm Al Qaiwain, people took to the streets to enjoy the spectacular shows and infatuating weather.
Thousands of people watched the spectacular fireworks display at the iconic Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The crowds from almost every corner of the world, including from within the country, applauded as, at the stroke of midnight, the UAE and Dubai in particular ushered in the New Year in grand fashion.
It is the moment that the people were eagerly waiting for, some even landing much earlier than anticipated so that they could get a vantage position to view the fantastic pyrotechnics.
The Dubai Police had pulled out all stops to ensure safe and secure New Year’s Eve celebrations.
To this end, they deployed thousands of personnel, security guards, patrols and vehicles across over two dozen locations in the city where the firework displays would be held. Arrangements were made for the public to reach the Burj Khalifa area using the underground train services. There were magnificent fireworks in other emirates as well.
A fireworks extravaganza lit up the skies above several landmark attractions, including Abu Dhabi Corniche, Yas Island and Maryam Island, at the chimes of midnight.
The people of Sharjah watched the spectacular fireworks of the annual show at the popular tourist hotspots such as Al Majaz Waterfront and Al Qasba.
Ras Al Khaimah also put up stupendous firework shows, in tandem with musical rhythms. The celebrations featured pyro drones, nano lights, colours and shapes choreographed to electric beats.
The UAE has welcomed the New Year, 2023, with spectacular fireworks and world record-breaking display across the country early on Sunday.
Thousands of people watched the spectacular fireworks display at the iconic Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The crowds from almost every corner of the world, including from within the country, applauded as, at the stroke of midnight, the UAE and Dubai in particular ushered in the New Year in grand fashion.
It is the moment that the people were eagerly waiting for, some even landing much earlier than anticipated so that they could get a vantage position to view the fantastic pyrotechnics.
The Dubai Police had pulled out all stops to ensure safe and secure New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Earlier during the day, UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan took to Twitter on New Year’s Eve to greet the people of the UAE on the occasion of the New Year.
"As we welcome the New Year, we reflect with gratitude on how far we have come as a nation and renew our commitment to creating an even brighter future together,” Sheikh Mohamed said in his message.
“We pray that the year ahead brings peace and happiness to the people of the UAE, the region and the world,” Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed tweeted.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, also shared a similar message on his Twitter account.
Sheikh Mohammed extended his New Year greetings to people in the UAE and around the world. Sheikh Mohammed also wished everyone a safe, prosperous and peaceful New Year.
The Ruler of Dubai took to his Twitter account and said, “2022 has been a remarkable year for the UAE, stepping further to the future through breakthrough initiatives. “We will embrace 2023 with a relentless spirit to achieve no less than the best.”
“We wish our people and all nations in the world a happy, safe and prosperous new year.”
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid also shared a video on his Twitter account highlighting the UAE’s milestones over the past 12 months, including hosting Expo 2020 Dubai and opening the Museum of the Future in Dubai.
Sheikh Mohammed shared a video clip titled “What can a country achieve in 365 days? UAE 2022” on his official Instagram account.
During the video, Sheikh Mohammed reviewed the qualitative achievements made by the UAE during 2022 and how it overcame global challenges and turned the impossible into possible, with strong proactive steps led by a leadership that does not know the impossible.
The UAE broke the impossible and hosted the whole world after the COVID-19 pandemic at the international exhibition Expo 2020 Dubai. It also challenged the impossible in the rules of engineering by building an architectural icon "Museum of the Future", which is the most beautiful building in the world.
Furthermore, it was able to achieve a growth of 19 per cent in non-oil foreign trade with Dhs1.6 trillion, despite the global recession.
Although it is said that it is impossible for a nascent country to reach the moon, the UAE has launched the first Arab and regional lunar mission to explore the moon.
The UAE also received 22 million tourists after the pandemic; not only that, it also topped the world in 171 development indicators, though it is 50 years old.
The video also mentioned how the UAE overcame impossibilities and challenges to become the world’s top passport with which its holder can enter 180 countries without a visa.
With the global challenges and COVID-19 pandemic, it was impossible to collect a billion meals for the world's poor, but the UAE is a country that does not know the impossible. It collected one billion meals for the world's poor in just one month, in addition to encouraging 22 million students to participate in the largest global reading challenge.
As an oil country, it is impossible to be the largest investor in clean energy. The UAE not only signed an agreement worth $100 billion to invest in clean energy, it is also leading the largest global dialogue on climate change. It will host the COP28 in the presence of more than 140 countries.
It is also impossible for it to be an oasis of security and stability in a region rife with unrest. The UAE achieved this by topping the index of security and roaming safely at night.
The video concluded by saying, “This is how the UAE was in 2022, a leadership that does not know the impossible, a country that creates the future and does not wait for it."
