RAK New Year's Eve fireworks display sets new Guinness World Record


Evelyn Lau
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  • Arabic

One of the biggest New Year’s Eve displays in the UAE took place on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, with the emirate ushering in the New Year by setting the Guinness World Record for "largest aerial firework shell".

Powered by 1,089.545 kilograms of fireworks, the display lasted over 10 minutes and the sky show was witnessed by thousands of revellers.

The record-setting feat saw the launch of the 1,500mm aerial shell into the night sky.

Reaching its apex in just 15 seconds, the shell burst into a glorious flower with the effect of its silver tips changing colour to red as it opened and descended back down.

The fireworks display was inspired by natural beauty of Ras Al Khaimah and Al Marjan Island. The show was choreographed in seven chapters set to global music by 14 renowned composers.

The latest effort trumps the old record set by the Kounosu fireworks festival in Sitama, Japan, on October 11, 2014.

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Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

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