Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Festival officially broke three Guinness World Records during its New Year celebrations.
Taking place in Al Wathba, the impressive fireworks show lasted for 40 minutes, and broke the records for volume, duration and form.
The celebrations were held with strict Covid-19 protocols in place, with a negative PCR test result required to enter the festival.
As well as the fireworks, there was a dazzling drone show made up of 2,022 unmanned aircraft. The drones formed the faces of UAE leaders, including Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father, President Sheikh Khalifa, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
The drones also formed the shapes of UAE skyscrapers, planet Earth, the festival's logo and the words, "Happy New Year 2022."
Elsewhere in the UAE, there was a dazzling firework show on Al Maryah Island, and Dubai had several countdowns to 2022, including a light and firework show at Burj Khalifa and a concert from Robbie Williams at Atlantis, The Palm.
The British pop star delivered a crowd-pleasing show at the Palm Jumeirah hotel. Stepping on stage just before 11pm and clad in a gold sequinned jacket, Williams delivered an almost chronological greatest hits set.
Beginning with the triumphant Let Me Entertain You, from 1997 debut album Life Thru A Lens, the singer aged 47 belted out a catalogue of hits representing the evolution of British pop music over the past 25 years.
See highlights from Robbie Williams's New Year's Eve concert here:
-
Robbie Williams performs at a New Year's Eve gala dinner at Atlantis, The Palm, in Dubai. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The British pop star performed a greatest hits show at Atlantis, The Palm. -
Robbie Williams delivered an almost chronological greatest hits set. -
The singer belted out a catalogue of hits representing the evolution of British pop music over the past 25 years. -
The singer wore a gold sequinned jacket for the show. -
Williams began the show with the triumphant 'Let Me Entertain You', from his 1997 debut album 'Life Thru A Lens'. -
'This is my first gig in two years,' Williams told the crowd. 'I am trying to remind myself who I am and what I do.' -
He also performed 'Come Undone', 'Rock DJ' and 'Kids'. -
His tracks such as the heartwarming 'Feel', 'She’s the One' and 'Better Man' served as an exhilarating prelude to the New Year’s Eve countdown and fireworks. -
Williams had to ask the crowd to follow social distancing measures by moving away from the front of the stage. -
The former Take That singer will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his solo career in 2022. -
A guest arrives at the New Year's Eve gala dinner. -
Guests arrive at the New Year's Eve gala dinner. -
Guests take selfies at the New Year's Eve gala dinner. -
Performers at the New Year's Eve gala dinner at Atlantis, The Palm, in Dubai.
