Dubai celebrates the coming of the New Year with all sorts of spectacles every year. As the countdown to midnight on 31 December begins, the city buzzes with fireworks, live shows, elaborate dining experiences, and celebrations scattered across various places in the city. Whether you’re looking for a laid-back evening with your family, the best possible vantage points of the fireworks, or you’re planning on revelling until the early hours of the morning, Dubai has something for every taste. From such universally famous monuments to peaceful desert retreats, this guide counts the most appropriate ways of celebrating New Year’s Eve in Dubai.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks in Dubai
Family-Friendly Fireworks Spots
For families with children, comfort, space and easy access can be as important as the fireworks themselves. Certain places also have earlier countdowns that make it possible for younger children to participate in the celebration without staying up too late.
- Global Village is one of the popular family destinations for New year Eve fireworks. Fireworks are launched several times during the course of the evening as they relate to the different time zones so that families can enjoy the performance well before midnight. With its food stalls, entertainment, and boardwalk walkways, it is an easy choice for parents.
- Expo City Dubai is another great family activity. Its open plazas, well-organised modes of events and wide corridors make it less congested as compared to Downtown Dubai. Early celebrations and a well-thought-out layout make the venue perfect for families.
- Community areas such as Town Square by Nshama and Dubai Festival City offer relaxed neighbourhood-type celebrations. These venues are walkable and more expansive than main tourist districts and less hurried.
- Residential communities, such as Arabian Ranches, Jumeirah Golf Estates and Dubai Parks and Resorts, continue to be very popular with families wanting to be close to fireworks while staying close to home.
The Most Famous Fireworks Spots in Dubai
For those looking for the very best of Dubai New Year’s Eve, these headline places offer unforgettable sights and atmosphere.
- Burj Khalifa continues to dominate as the most iconic place to ring in the New Year. Fireworks, LED light shows and the Dubai Fountain unify to form a huge midnight countdown. This year Shahrukh Khan will lead to 8-day New Year celebration at Burj Khalifa. Though the experience is unforgettable, visitors should expect huge crowds, closed roads and a long night.
- Atlantis The Palm is another major attraction. Fireworks brace the water, and you can see them from the boardwalk of Palm Jumeirah and adjacent beaches. Access to the Palm is often lost in the later evening, so it is important to arrive early.
- Burj Al Arab has one of the most recognisable fireworks displays in Dubai. Viewing sites at Jumeirah Beach and Umm Suqeim provide a festive beachfront as those in attendance gather to watch the show.
- Bluewaters Island and JBR have waterfront fireworks with skyline views and the background of Ain Dubai. The area is great to walk around and very walkable, but there are common restrictions for traffic on that evening.
Scenic and Relaxation Viewing Areas
If you are more into magnificent surroundings without too much crowding, then these places offer a more peaceful view of the New Year’s Eve fireworks.
- Al Seef on Dubai Creek is a charming heritage-style environment. Fireworks are reflected in the water as the visitors stroll, dine and enjoy the environment at a leisurely pace.
- Dubai Creek Harbour offers wide vistas of waterfronts, and many times the fireworks are seen in the distance of the skyline. Open and relaxed, the promenade is in contrast to busier places.
- Hotels like Park Hyatt Dubai and Palazzo Versace Dubai provide elegant creekside settings where fireworks light up the water and don’t get bogged down by large crowds.
- Dubai Frame and nearby Zabeel Park form an impressive background, an old and new Dubai in a more tranquil setting.
Beachfront and Coastal Firework Spots
For people who love sea views and fresh air, Dubai’s coastline provides a lulling yet festive way to celebrate.
- Areas around Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Four Seasons Resort Jumeirah and J1 Beach at La Mer An area in front of Jumeirah Beach, often visited by tourists from the open shoreline you can observe the fireworks.
- Along the coast areas of JBR, with venues like Le Royal Meridien, Nikki Beach and Bulgari Resort, there are open views of the sea and wide spaces to move around, as compared to the congested promenades.
Quiet Escapes and Alternative Celebrations
If you would rather avoid the city altogether, Dubai also offers serene New Year’s Eve experiences.
- Hatta offers up a mountainous environment with cooler climates and local festivities, far away from the city skyline.
- Al Marmoom Oasis and Bab Al Shams offer desert-based celebrations where the fireworks can be seen above dunes rather than skyscrapers, which results in a relaxed and memorable atmosphere.
- Further down the coast, JA Jebel Ali Beach Hotel and voco Monaco on The World Islands help provide views of the distant skyline with not nearly as many people in front.
New Year’s Eve Parties and Events in Dubai
For those who want to welcome the New Year with food, music and entertainment, Dubai has a lot of New Year’s Eve dinners, rooftop parties and themed events.
From festive dining experiences in Al Barsha, Business Bay and Downtown Dubai to beachside celebrations at Bluewaters and Palm Jumeirah, the options range from family-friendly dining experiences to glamorous late-night celebrations.
There are also many venues that are offering live DJs, international menus, countdown celebrations and after-parties that last into the early hours. Some events cater to families for the price of children, others are adult-focused – only experiences with vista rooftops and city skylines.
Best Places to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Dubai
1. Downtown Dubai
Downtown Dubai is at the centre of the New Year’s Eve celebrations. Restaurants, rooftops, and hotels have some of the best dinner and countdown events to watch the Burj Khalifa. The atmosphere is electrifying, but crowds are large; consequently, bookings and early arrival are a must.
2. Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah is famous for some fancy New Year’s Eve celebrations. Many beachfront resorts and restaurants hold ticketed dinners, parties and live entertainment. Fireworks around Atlantis make Atlantis a great place for luxurious celebrations.
3. Dubai Marina
Dubai Marina is full of party-themed dinner parties, lounges and ‘late night’ events. Many venues overlook the water, giving it a party atmosphere as yachts and buildings light up for the countdown.
4. Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR)
JBR is perfect for those who want a social yet walkable party. Beachfront restaurants, cafes and lounges host a number of New Year’s Eve dinners and parties, while fireworks are often visible on the shoreline.
5. Bluewaters Island
Bluewaters Island has stylish dining events and parties with views of the sea and Ain Dubai. Many venues have the food, the live entertainment and the clear view of the fireworks, the perfect balance of a lively but controlled celebration.
6. Business Bay
Business Bay is also a popular spot for holding rooftop parties and themed dinners. Many hotels in the area have New Year’s Eve brunches, live music and New Year’s countdown events, with some venues serving remote Burj Khalifa viewing.
7. DIFC
DIFC is known for upscale eating and lofty celebrations. Expect elegant New Year’s Eve dinners, cocktail parties and live DJs in a more classy environment. This area is suitable for couples and groups who want a sophisticated night out.
8. City Walk
City Walk is an outdoor setting with increasingly modern restaurants and lounges with New Year’s Eve specials. The area has a relaxed yet festive feel to it, making it a good choice for people who want to celebrate without being overwhelmed with too many people.
9. Jumeirah
Jumeirah is home to numerous beachfront places and neighbourhood restaurants which serve New Year’s Eve menus and small-scale parties. It is a fitting choice for people who enjoy a more relaxed and local feeling near the coast.
10. Dubai Creek Harbour
Dubai creek harbour waterfront events and dining experiences with broad views into the skyline. The open promenade and also calmer setting make it preferred for relaxed New Year’s Eve celebrations.
11. Sheikh Zayed Road
Sheikh Zayed Road is lined with hotels where they host New Year’s Eve dinners, lounging and rooftop parties. Some of the venues offer skyline or fireworks views, while others focus on music, food and late-night celebrations.
12. Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT)
JLT is known for community-style celebrations with restaurants and lounges with New Year’s Eve menus and small parties. It is great for residents and visitors for a place that is not overcrowded with tourism.
13. Jebel Ali
Jebel Ali provides spacious resorts and more peaceful New Year’s Eve occasions. Many venues are dedicated to relaxing dinners, live music and beach parties, so it can be suitable for those who do not want to visit the busy city areas.
Most New Year’s Eve events in Dubai are ticketed or require prior reservations, especially in popular areas such as Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina. Planning for all transport in advance is also important as a result of road closures and access restrictions.
No matter how you choose to celebrate, there are countless ways of bringing in the New Year in the style that suits you best in Dubai.
Related reads:
When and Where to Catch Dubai Fireworks and Drone Shows This New Year
