Discover where to witness stunning fireworks and experience star-studded concerts in Dubai this New Year’s Eve as the city bids farewell to 2023. The skyline will be illuminated by fireworks at prominent locations like Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, and Burj Al Arab, each offering a distinct ambiance for revelers. Other venues, including Hatta, Al Seef, Bluewaters, The Beach, and Global Village, promise diverse celebrations.
In addition to the fireworks spectacle, Dubai presents various entertainment options:
Drone Shows: Over 800 drones at The Beach, JBR, and Bluewaters at 8 pm and 10 pm, depicting Dubai’s past and future.
Concerts:
Atlantis, The Palm: Headlined by Sting.
Dubai Opera: Featuring Fantastic Negrito, Dubai Opera Big Band, and DJ Slim.
Zero Gravity Dubai: Performances by Rudimental, Sigala, and Nathan Dawe.
Rixos The Palm: John Newman presenting his hits.
Burj Al Arab: The Gypsy Kings delivering their unique sound in the Marine Garden.
This New Year’s Eve promises a dazzling combination of visual extravaganzas and musical performances, catering to a diverse range of preferences for both residents and visitors.
The Emirates Draw has announced a record-breaking cash prize of AED200 million, the largest ever offered in the UAE, as part of its Mega7 category. Participants can join the draw until 8:30 pm on December 31, with the jackpot going to the person matching all seven numbers drawn on Sunday.
The grand prize will be shared if multiple participants match all seven numbers. The Mega7 category offers two opportunities to win with every ticket, making it an attractive option for participants.
The draw’s New Year Grand Draw will also randomly select 15 Guaranteed Winners of AED10,000 each through their Raffle IDs. Participants aged 18 or above can purchase tickets online from anywhere in the world.
Sharjah Police have declared a prohibition on New Year’s Eve celebrations and fireworks, citing it as a gesture of solidarity with the people of Gaza.
The announcement includes an appeal to both institutions and individuals to comply with the directive, with a warning of legal consequences for those who violate the instructions.
Abu Dhabi authorities have announced the suspension of food truck permits in specific ‘unserved areas’ of the city until further notice. The advisory, posted on the X social media platform (formerly Twitter), clarified that the suspension applies to certain areas, including Khalifa City, Al Hudayriat, Al Shamkha, Al Khatam, and Adnoc stations.
This move aims to ensure compliance with regulations during the peak winter season, with authorities emphasizing the need for food truck operators to adhere to set rules, such as only parking when serving customers and ensuring staff members wear uniforms.
Permits will continue to be issued and renewed in other locations.
The National Centre of Meteorology has forecasted fair and partly cloudy weather with heavy rain across the UAE. Low clouds are expected over the east by afternoon, accompanied by light to moderate winds.
Red and yellow alerts have been issued for fog and rough seas, warning of deteriorating visibility and rough sea conditions until 8 pm on Wednesday. Temperature highs may reach 30ºC, while lows could be as low as 18ºC in Abu Dhabi and 20ºC in Dubai, with mountainous regions experiencing 7ºC.
Humidity levels will vary from 50 to 90 percent in Abu Dhabi and 45 to 85 percent in Dubai, particularly humid during the night and Friday morning. Sea conditions will range from slight to moderate, occasionally rough westward in the Arabian Gulf and slight in the Oman Sea.
The Higher Organising Committee of the ongoing Sheikh Zayed Festival at Abu Dhabi’s Al Wathba showgrounds has unveiled an exciting New Year’s special program. Packed with events, shows, folkloric performances, and international art displays, the celebration promises a cultural and entertaining spectacle set to attract millions of visitors, residents, and tourists from around the world.
Highlights of the New Year’s Extravaganza:
Largest Firework Display: The festival boasts the largest and most extravagant firework display lasting over 60 minutes, aiming to break four Guinness World Records in terms of quantity, time, and design intricacy.
Drone Show Record: Over 5,000 drones will create intricate patterns in the Al Wathba skies, setting a new regional record.
First-of-its-Kind Laser Show: A massive laser show is planned, marking a first-of-its-kind event in the region.
Cultural and Civilizational Performances: The festival will feature special presentations by the Emirates Fountain, Glowing Towers Garden, various pavilions, and numerous cultural and civilizational performances from around the world.
Record-Breaking Fireworks: The Sheikh Zayed Festival aims to break three new Guinness World Records with a 60-minute continuous firework display, offering visitors a unique experience as they welcome the first moments of 2024.
Drone Shows and Laser Spectacles: Visitors will witness a dazzling drone show with over 5,000 drones and enjoy a major laser show, both setting new Guinness World Records. The Emirates Fountain will also contribute to the festive atmosphere with laser and music shows.
Art and Entertainment Shows: The festival promises an atmosphere of joy and celebration with the release of 100,000 colorful balloons and a DJ and live music show, ensuring an unforgettable entertainment experience for visitors of all ages.
Various Celebratory Features: The Heritage Village within the festival will showcase Al Razfa and Ayala dances to celebrate the New Year. Various institutions and government bodies will organize entertaining celebratory events at their pavilions, along with special activities for children.
World Civilizations Parade: Participating countries will celebrate the New Year with carnival shows and folkloric performances, contributing to the World Civilizations Parade that promises lively and joyous performances.
Food and Shopping Extravaganza: As part of the 2024 New Year celebration, visitors can enjoy great discounts, surprises, and new dining experiences at local and international restaurants scattered throughout the pavilions and areas of the festival.
The Sheikh Zayed Festival invites visitors daily until March 9, 2024, offering a joyful and memorable outdoor experience with events, activities, and competitions suitable for all age groups. Weekdays see operations from 16:00 to midnight, and on weekends and public holidays, the festival remains open until 01:00.
Abu Dhabi Police is advising parents to safeguard their children from engaging in violent online games, highlighting the potential negative impacts such as addiction, isolation, and detachment from reality.
Officials stress the importance of parents actively monitoring their children’s smart device activities and intervening in their choice of games and applications. The police also encourage parents to track their children’s online interactions and prompt them to report any instances of bullying or blackmail.
Reporting such cases can be done through the Aman Service hotline at 8002626 (AMAN2626), via text messages (2828), email (aman@adpolice.gov.ae), or through the smart application of the General Command of Abu Dhabi Police.
In 2024, UAE consumers are anticipated to experience a reduction in borrowing costs as interest rates are expected to decrease by 100 basis points.
Analysts suggest that interest rates on personal loans, mortgages, car financing, and credit cards will decline due to expected rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve and the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), influenced by a drop in inflation in the United States.
The UAE, pegging its currency to the US dollar, typically mirrors the Fed’s monetary policy. The potential 50-100 basis points rate cut is seen as a response to easing inflation pressures. Lower interest rates are expected to impact consumers positively, reducing borrowing costs for personal loans, mortgages, and credit cards.
The decline in rates may particularly benefit short-term loans like credit cards and auto loans. Additionally, lower mortgage rates are expected to enhance housing demand and affordability.
The Sharjah government has granted a four-day weekend to its employees for the New Year celebration. The Department of Human Resources has officially declared January 1, 2024, as a holiday for all government departments and institutions in Sharjah.
Government sector employees can enjoy an extended break, with work resuming on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
This decision aligns with the federal government’s declaration of January 1 as a public holiday, providing a three-day weekend for employees across the country.
Additionally, the Dubai authority has also designated January 1, 2024, as a paid holiday for its government sector, allowing employees to fully partake in New Year celebrations.
Turkey has introduced visa-free entry for citizens from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Canada, Bahrain, and Oman.
Galata tower in Istanbul, Turkey.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced this decision on Friday, and it was officially published in the Turkish Official Gazette on Saturday. The move is aimed at strengthening international relations and encouraging cultural exchange.
Under this new policy, nationals of these six countries can enter Turkey without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
This initiative is anticipated to boost tourism by providing tourists with the opportunity to explore Turkey’s historical sites, diverse landscapes, and vibrant cultural heritage.
