LET THE GIVING BEGIN
Spectacular fireworks herald a themed NY
dubai — The UAE on Sunday rang in a themed New Year, named the Year of Giving, with a message of compassion and spectacular firework displays at the nation’s hotspots.
At the stroke of midnight, Dubai’s very own Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, was placed at the centre of the world, regaling residents and visitors from across the globe to a dazzling pyrotechnics extravaganza.
“Celebrating national pride” was this year’s theme. The sky was lit for eight minutes, highlighted by a series of crescendos which captivated the huge crowd estimated at around 650,000 at the foot of the Burj Khalifa, and almost two million if we are to include those who stood in awe in surrounding areas, including the Burj Park, Mohammad Bin Rashid Boulevard, Shaikh Zayed Road and Business Bay.
This time around, the celebrations assumed special significance because of what the New Year signifies for the UAE. With 2017 declared as the Year of Giving, the famed fireworks sent out messages of love, hope and compassion.
“I’ve read about the Year of Giving in the newspaper and online, and I admire the UAE leadership for coming up with such initiative,” said Jason Yi, a Chinese tourist.
“The country is setting a good example for other nations to follow, especially in this time of serious conflicts in the region,” said Algerian tourist Bessine Yousef.
DUBAI — At the stroke of midnight, the skies of Dubai was lit for eight minutes, regaling residents and visitors from across the globe to its annual spectacular fireworks display, ushering in 2017.
The Burj Khalifa was once again placed at the centre of the world when pyrotechnics spewed the colours of the UAE heralding the New Year highlighted by a series of crescendos which captivated an excited crowd estimated at around 650,000 at the foot of the world’s largest tower.
If we are to include those who stood in awe at surrounding areas, including Burj Park, Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Shaikh Zayed Road and the Business Bay area, the number of people who witnessed this year’s festivities in Dubai would be almost two million.
Standing shoulder to shoulder at the foot of the Burj Khalifa, people were blowing trumpets and shouting ‘Happy New Year’ as the countdown began with rockets cutting through the air and colourful brush strokes enveloping the Burj Khalifa, followed by panoramic fireworks display highlighting the major achievements and futuristic developments of the UAE.
When fireworks lit up the skies, the visitors didn’t fail to capturing every moment with their smartphones in hand.
Using the latest technology, specialised red and white projections continued the spectacle as special LED shows and pyrotechnics were spewed from the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Opera and other landmarks in Downtown Dubai.
The Dubai Fountain was also synchronised with the fireworks and a Middle Eastern sound track brought to life Arabian dance forms, among others.
Highlighting the fireworks sequence was the display of the Expo 2020 logo, inspired by the 4,000-year-old ring discovered by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the Sarouq Al Hadeed site.
The finale celebrated Dubai’s futuristic icon, celebrating national pride and serving as a symbolic bridge between the present and future of Dubai.
“It was an absolute epic,” summed up by 10-year Dubai resident Praneep Srinivas, who witnessed the event for the first time with his parents.
The Eugenio family endured waiting for 10 hours just to get a perfect view of the fireworks. Rommel, the head of the family, said “it was worth all the wait.”
“I had watched fireworks on Youtube before and now experiencing it up close was truly fantastic and exhilarating – the sound, the lights were all indescribable,” Rommel said.
Ruth, a service crew, at a restaurant in Burj Park was almost teary- eyed after the fireworks. “It was better than last year, erasing the somehow bad memory of seeing the nearby Address Hotel engulfed in fire,” she told Khaleej Times.
Algerian tourist Bessine Yousef also agreed. “Watching it for the second time in a row was truly amazing.” Sharjah surprises crowd In Sharjah, the centre of attraction was Al Majaz Waterfront, which captivated the spectators with the longest firework display. Since early evening, thousands of families, tourists and visitors headed to Al Majaz Waterfront, to find the perfect location along Khalid Lagoon’s Corniche.
Synchronised to the music of the Sharjah Fountain, the fireworks lit up the sky before midnight, in preparation for the countdown to welcome the New Year 2017.
Reservations to all restaurants and cafés along Al Majaz waterfront were full, with visitors booking well in advance.