Where were you when the fireworks went off?

‘So, how was your New Year’s Eve?” asked a friend, and I said it was tiresome, waiting for more than seven hours for the fireworks show.

We had managed to wangle a vantage point from an apartment more than 25 floors up at Jumeirah Beach Residences (JBR) that gave us a panoramic view of the Arabian Gulf waters and the beach, where the grand fireworks would culminate.

We then scared our friends into coming very early before the event. “I have just read on Facebook that all roads to the fireworks will be blocked hours before midnight,” my wife told them.

“Maybe they should start walking now, carrying the beverage cartons, or take the Metro,” I said helpfully. “I heard that millions of tourists, including from up and down the JBR Walk. Don’t forget to bring your phone chargers,” said my wife.

We set off from The Gardens to JBR, which is just a few minutes away, on the last day of 2015, with our car packed with stuff, as if we were emigrating from Dubai to some other emirate. The last time the boot felt this heavy was on our trip to Al Ain, 125 kilometres away, and we didn’t even stay there overnight.

“I admire people who go around the world with just a backpack,” I said. “Dad, we are not people,” said my son, happy that he had packed all his video games to play into the New Year.

When we arrived at the apartment building, I realised it was not just us who had this brilliant idea. Families carrying Dubai Duty Free bags, presumably full of food and board games, were waiting for the slow lifts to take us up to our designated flats.

“We need to pick up the food,” said my wife. “They won’t deliver it home today because of the traffic.”

“Punch in the location on the phone GPS. Where are we going?” I asked.

“Media City. Oh no, she’s taking us on to Shaikh Zayed Road,” said my wife as we got into the traffic, while a friendly, female, disembodied voice gave us directions. She became confused when I did not follow her instructions.

“Ask her for an alternative route. Did you see the cars coming from Abu Dhabi? Too late, I can’t take the U-turn because of the tram,” I said.

When we finally brought the food home, the aroma of the biryani in earthen pots and steamed with a dough covering, was overwhelming. “I am hungry,” said my son. “I haven’t had lunch,” said my wife. “If we eat this now there will be nothing much left for the party”, I said. “Does the food have to be eaten at midnight?” my son asked.

We looked at each other and my wife said, “Let’s go down to The Walk and pick up something light to eat.”

Expatriate gatherings in the Arab Gulf states, as you may be aware, are usually centred round food, with Arab families around innumerable cups of sweet Sulaimani tea, kebabs and the shisha.

When the massive fireworks started I didn’t get to see much of it as I was filming it on my phone to post on Facebook. I also could not get a selfie for the record.

Mahmood Saberi is a freelance journalist based in Dubai.