Ring in the New Year Dubai-style, with mesmerising sparklers and Catherine wheels, thunderous rockets and eye-catching fountain shows. The emirate is known for its love of fireworks, complete with larger-than-life pyrotechnics as well as laser beams and facade displays.
This year is set to be bigger and better, with both old favourites and new venues gearing up to host spectacular displays. Here’s where you can catch them on December 31, as well as two on January 1.
Burj Khalifa
The big daddy of New Year’s Eve celebrations is not only putting on a cutting-edge fireworks display and laser show on its famed facade, but will also attempt to score a Guinness World Record for the largest laser display, and break the record for its light beams travelling the longest distance yet.
The end game, say organises, is to turn “the iconic tower into a shining beacon of hope, happiness and harmony for 2023”. The show will be about 10 minutes long.
For those who wish to witness the show first-hand, read our story on everything you need to know, including information on transport and parking and how to access Downtown Dubai amid road closures.
Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah is another noteworthy fireworks venue in Dubai, with shows set to take place at not one but three spots this year.
Those at Club Vista Mare and Palm West Beach will start at midnight and last for three minutes each.
These will be best viewed by booking a table at one of the many restaurants, lounges, bars and cafes dotting the areas — from San Beach, Koko Bay and February 30 on Palm West Beach, to Rumba, The Tap House and Myrra at Club Vista Mare.
Elsewhere, Atlantis, The Palm is hosting its own fireworks spectacle that, organisers say, will be “one of Dubai’s largest and most stunning displays of pyrotechnics”. While most of the hotel’s restaurants are fully booked on December 31, tickets are still available for its New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner that is a fantastic viewing spot for the fireworks display to boot.
Festival Bay
Dubai Festival City Mall will put on one of the longest fireworks displays this year, firing up Festival Bay at midnight for a duration of five minutes. Viewers can also catch a one-off Imagine show — a laser and fountain display that prides itself on its original storytelling, often connected to the culture and traditions of the UAE.
The Festival Bay arena will also host a concert, starting with award-winning DJ Dany Neville at 10pm, followed by Iraqi artist Mahmoud Al Turky taking to the stage at 10.30pm.
Bluewaters Island
The man-made island will kick-start its three-minute-long fireworks show at 11.59pm, so revellers can welcome the new year against a backdrop of mesmerising light and sparkle.
While there are plenty of vantage points from which to catch the display — including the waterfront walk and the footbridge connecting Bluewaters Island and JBR — you can also book a spot at one of the restaurants on the island, including The London Project, Shi and Amici.
The Beach, JBR
On the other side of the bridge, The Beach, JBR, will also begin its fireworks show at 11.59pm, in tandem with Bluewaters. The display will last for three minutes, and can be viewed from the beach and various family-friendly restaurants in the area, such as PF Chang’s, The Cheesecake Factory and Bosporus.
Global Village
While the joy of counting down to a new year is undeniable, Global Village will host not one, but seven fireworks shows through the evening on December 31.
The minute-long displays will begin at 8pm on the main stage (to coincide with midnight in the Philippines), followed by 9pm (Thailand), Bangladesh (10pm), India (10.30pm), Pakistan (11pm) and even one at 1am on January 1 (to coincide with New Year’s Eve in Turkey).
The main midnight fireworks display, meanwhile, will last for five minutes — making for a total of 11 minutes of fireworks at Global Village, which will be open from 4pm to 2am on December 31.
Dubai Parks & Resorts
This is another destination hosting two fireworks shows before the stroke of midnight — albeit this time to accommodate children. The displays will light up the sky at 7pm and 9pm, while annual pass holders can enjoy the view in a dedicated area at Riverland Dubai.
Al Seef
Enjoy a fireworks show amid traditional architecture and Creek-side views at Al Seef, which will put on its display at 11.59pm on December 31 for a duration of three minutes.
The venue is also planning a fireworks show on New Year’s Day. Head there on January 1, to catch the three-minute-long display that starts at 8.30pm.
TopGolf
The sport-meets-party spot is hosting a disco-themed do to ring in 2023, topped off with its own fireworks display. These will go off for a duration of three minutes from midnight, directly facing the Dubai Marina skyline.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE
Price, base / as tested Dh274,000 (estimate)
Engine 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder
Gearbox Nine-speed automatic
Power 245hp @ 4,200rpm
Torque 500Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km
Film: In Syria
Dir: Philippe Van Leeuw
Starring: Hiam Abbass, Diamand Bo Abboud, Mohsen Abbas and Juliette Navis
Verdict: Four stars
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Who: France v Italy
When: Friday, 11pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Employment lawyer Meriel Schindler of Withers Worldwide shares her tips on achieving equal pay
Do your homework
Make sure that you are being offered a fair salary. There is lots of industry data available, and you can always talk to people who have come out of the organisation. Where I see people coming a cropper is where they haven’t done their homework.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
It’s quite standard to negotiate if you think an offer is on the low side. The job is unlikely to be withdrawn if you ask for money, and if that did happen I’d question whether you want to work for an employer who is so hypersensitive.
Know your worth
Women tend to be a bit more reticent to talk about their achievements. In my experience they need to have more confidence in their own abilities – men will big up what they’ve done to get a pay rise, and to compete women need to turn up the volume.
Work together
If you suspect men in your organisation are being paid more, look your boss in the eye and say, “I want you to assure me that I’m paid equivalent to my peers”. If you’re not getting a straight answer, talk to your peer group and consider taking direct action to fix inequality.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Who's who in Yemen conflict
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Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
MATCH INFO
World Cup 2022 qualifier
UAE v Indonesia, Thursday, 8pm
Venue: Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes 58-10 Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers 5-39 Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons 16-56 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Keane on …
Liverpool’s Uefa Champions League bid: “They’re great. With the attacking force they have, for me, they’re certainly one of the favourites. You look at the teams left in it - they’re capable of scoring against anybody at any given time. Defensively they’ve been good, so I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t go on and win it.”
Mohamed Salah’s debut campaign at Anfield: “Unbelievable. He’s been phenomenal. You can name the front three, but for him on a personal level, he’s been unreal. He’s been great to watch and hopefully he can continue now until the end of the season - which I’m sure he will, because he’s been in fine form. He’s been incredible this season.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s instant impact at former club LA Galaxy: “Brilliant. It’s been a great start for him and for the club. They were crying out for another big name there. They were lacking that, for the prestige of LA Galaxy. And now they have one of the finest stars. I hope they can go win something this year.”
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
SCHEDULE
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm:Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
Amith's predicted winners:
6.30pm: Down On Da Bayou
7.05pm: Etisalat
7.40pm: Mulfit
8.15pm: Pennsylvania Dutch
8.50pm: Mudallel
9.25pm: Midnight Sands
