Sheikh Zayed Festival Abu Dhabi: Inside the 62-Minute New Year’s Eve, Guinness World Record Spectacle at Al Wathba

Tuesday, 30 December, 2025 | Dubai, UAE [posted at 5:22 pm] Updated on 31 Dec 2025 at 05:03 am

Sheikh Zayed Festival Abu Dhabi is gearing up to deliver one of the most ambitious New Year’s Eve celebrations ever staged in the UAE as the final moments of the year come closer. Visitors will experience a meticulously planned showcase of technology, heritage, and large-scale coordination that has been months in the making on December 31 at Al Wathba. 

Months of preparation behind the scenes

The visitors will witness a breathtaking 62-minute fireworks display on the 31st December of 2025. However, the organizers have revealed that preparation begins long before December. According to Mohammed Al Marzooqi, a member of the festival’s organising committee, planning starts months in advance to ensure seamless coordination between fireworks specialists, drone operators, safety teams, and logistics units.

Besides the visual spectacle, teamwork on infrastructure readiness, crowd management strategies, and emergency response plans is needed to guarantee a safe and smooth experience for tens of thousands of visitors expected to attend. 

Each fireworks segment has been created with a symbolic meaning. Colours show the UAE flag, and carefully selected sequences are synchronised with Emirati music that blends old sounds with modern arrangements. Hence, it supports the cultural identity of the festival. 

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Large-scale logistics and record-breaking ambition

Thousands of shells, extensive wiring networks and many launch platforms are required to deliver a continuous 62-minute firework. However, all of these elements are strategically positioned across Al Wathba. Moreover, all setups ‌strictly adhere to international safety standards and ensure maximum visibility for viewers across the venue. 

The Sheikh Zayed Festival Abu Dhabi is also set to host the largest drone performances in the world to increase the scale of the event. Around 6,500 drones will take to the sky for approximately 20 minutes to form nine giant three-dimensional formations inspired by Emirati heritage, national unity, and the UAE’s future vision.

The drone sequences are created to support the Sheikh Zayed Festival Abu Dhabi fireworks to create an immersive aerial narrative. Moreover, the organiser will also use the advanced synchronisation technology to ensure that drones, fireworks and a digital countdown operate as a single integrated system.  

In addition, the complete system will be monitored in real time from a central control room equipped with backup power and a communication network. Hundreds of professionals, including engineers, technicians, security personnel and emergency responders, are involved in this operation. 

Nighttime rehearsals are also being conducted after the festival closes to the public in the weeks leading up to New Year’s Eve. The rehearsal focuses on timing precision, smooth transitions and weather impact assessments.

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Guinness World Record attempt at Sheikh Zayed Festival Abu Dhabi

Its ambition to break five Guinness World Records is a major highlight of this year’s Sheikh Zayed Festival Abu Dhabi New Year’s Eve celebration. The centerpiece of the attempt is the world’s largest drone performance, as it features 6,500 drones operating simultaneously over Al Wathba. As we mentioned above, the 20-minute drone show will create nine massive three-dimensional formations synchronised with fireworks, music and a digital countdown to midnight.

More than a countdown

The Al Wathba display will unfold in five stages to build anticipation throughout the evening before its climax in a dramatic midnight finale. Carefully planned pauses within the show will give moments of reflection. In addition, it will draw inspiration from desert landscapes, pearl diving history and the unity of the UAE’s seven emirates.

Visitors can also enjoy a packed program of cultural and artistic performances. Moreover, traditional Emirati performances like Al Ayala, Al Razfa, and Al Nadooba will share the stage with global music and dance acts, carnival-style parades and live shows.

Families and children are a major focus because of dedicated entertainment at the Kids’ Theatre and attractions at the newly launched Wonderland entertainment city. 

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Final hour and visitor guidance

Lunch zones are secured and final safety checks will be conducted around an hour before midnight. Communication systems will be tested once more, weather conditions reassessed, and teams will move onto a minute-by-minute operational schedule. Once the show starts, the pre-programmed system will take over due to continuous monitoring and the ability to intervene if needed.

Organisers have also expanded the entry and exit gates, widened pedestrian walkways and increased medical and support teams to manage large crowds. Entry will be closed after full capacity. 

The Sheikh Zayed Festival Abu Dhabi is one of the country’s most significant cultural and heritage events under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and supervised by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. 

• Ticket price: Dh50
• Date: Wednesday, December 31
• Location: Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi

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