Ras Al Khaimah to put on a record-breaking fireworks display this New Year's Eve

Crowds can expect the ‘longest firework waterfall’, spanning 4km

Ras Al Khaimah has already hosted two Guinness World Record breaking New Year's Eve events, in 2018 and 2019. Courtesy Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
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Ras Al Khaimah is preparing to dazzle the world with a New Year's Eve fireworks spectacular that will attempt to break two Guinness World Records.

The first is the use of most unmanned aerial vehicles that will launch fireworks simultaneously with 190 drones firing at the same time. The second will be a show of the 'longest firework firewall' that will span a length of 4,000 metres (4km). As of now, the record is held by Fukuoka, Japan, with fireworks spanning the length of 3,517 metres.

Preparations have entered the final stage in accordance to stringent guidelines set by the adjudicators of the Guinness World Records. Every aspect of the 190-drone GWR attempt is being fine-tuned to create the ‘longest firework waterfall’ with the fireworks hung on wires at a distance measuring 4,000 metres.

The pyro-drones’ theme will also entail recreating the key monuments of Ras Al Khaimah through laser displays and pyrotechnics as the display builds to its grand finale.

Last year, the emirate's display broke two Guinness World Records, for the longest chain of fireworks and for the longest straight line of fireworks; the 2018 display set the record for the largest aerial firework shell. Despite this, this year's fireworks will be on a whole new level, according to a spokesperson for the organising committee for RAK NYE 2020.

“While the Ras Al Khaimah New Year’s Eve Gala has set Guinness World Records in the past two years, this year, the innovative two record-bids are first-of-a-kind, assuring a magnificent display. We are lending the final touches to the preparation and are working closely with the adjudicators to ensure that the show will be unlike any before,” the spokesperson said.

This New Year's Eve, crowds can gather at three new locations along the RAK coast opposite Al Marjan Island, and the displays will be viewable from several vantage positions, from Al Marjan Island, along the coast to Al Hamra. According to a steering committee spokesperson, they will be accommodating the crowds with activities for all family members, food trucks and more than 20,000 car parks.

“We are also undertaking extensive preparations on-ground to assure easy entry and exit, and the safety and security of the visitors. The event has already raised expectations and hotel bookings are robust. We expect a record turn-out for the event, including international visitors that will add to the tourism sector of the emirate,” the spokesperson added.

Apart from the fireworks, there will be plenty to keep residents entertained. A concert and gala dinner headlined by singersNajwa Karam and Waleed Shami will be taking place on New Year's Eve. The gala dinner will be held at Al Hamra International Convention Centre, located on the waterfront near Waldorf Astoria, and will host 1,000 people, so advance reservations are recommended. Three packages: silver, gold and diamond, priced at Dh800, Dh1,300 and Dh1,800, respectively, are available and can be reserved through Platinumlist or at www.raknye.com