The UAE goes all out on New Year's Eve with its fireworks displays and celebrations, and one of Dubai's favourite family-friendly attractions, Global Village, is no exception.
This year, the theme park decided to mark not one but seven New Year countdowns.
Celebrations started at 8pm, to coincide with midnight in the Philippines, before marking the beginning of 2023 in Thailand, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, the UAE and Turkey every hour after that.
Each country had its own seven-minute signature fireworks display and a dedicated countdown.
Throughout the night, which ended at 2am, entertainment was also on the main stage, with a DJ entertaining the crowd.
The 27th season of Global Village, which runs until April 29, there are 27 pavilions, with Qatar and Oman joining existing ones, which include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Africa, the Americas, China, Egypt, Europe, India, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, Yemen and Russia.
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Global Village reopened for its 27th season on October 25, 2022. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The family-friendly destination returned with various new attractions -
Drum group Aainjaa perform at the reopening of Global Village -
The first of many visitors for the new season -
The team behind Global Village said they worked all summer to improve existing attractions and dream up new ones -
Global Village is one of Dubai's longest-running and most popular attractions. -
Global Village season 27 ran until April 30, 2023 -
Confetti rains on visitors at the opening of season 27 -
Global Village opened from 4pm to midnight from Sunday to Wednesday and 4pm to 1am from Thursday to Saturday. -
The attraction is hugely popular with residents and tourists — especially families with young children. -
The attraction comes alive at night -
Entry to the new Road to Asia. -
Afghan music is played in the country's pavilion -
Joan Capers sells her Vietnamese gifts along the Road to Asia -
Mohammed Ayan sells jackets at his stall in the Afghanistan pavilion -
There are plenty of sights and sounds to take in -
The amusement park at Global Village is popular with people of all ages -
Dancers at the China pavilion -
Preparing halwa, a traditional dessert, at the Oman pavilion -
The fair features performances by singers, dancers, acrobats and many others -
The House of Fear is a fixture for thrill-seekers -
Many pavilions are given makeovers each season -
Preparing traditional Emirati food
New attractions this year include the House of Fears. Spread across 660 square metres, it features nine different experiences including a haunted cemetery, a hospital psychiatric ward and a screaming tree.
Also new this year is the Global Village Big Balloon, which will give guests the chance to experience 360-degree views of the attraction and its wider surroundings, and Road of Asia, a pedestrian street with 43 kiosks that offers food and products from countries not represented in the pavilions.
More than 50 dining concepts have been added this year to existing concepts, including the Railway Market launched last year, inspired by Thailand’s famous Umbrella Market.
In November, Global Village opened its outdoor skating rink, which it describes as eco-friendly. The custom-made rink uses synthetic ice, which is a solid polymer material specifically designed for skating.
Scroll through the gallery below to see other fireworks displays across the UAE for New Year's Eve 2023
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Fireworks explode from Burj Khalifa to ring in the new year. Reuters -
Burj Khalifa was the showstopper this year with its spectacular fireworks. AFP -
The world’s tallest tower shines brightly in a dazzling array of colours and lights at the stroke of midnight. AFP -
The colours of the UAE flag light Burj Khalifa, which also displays the image of President Sheikh Mohamed. AFP -
Those in attendance and watching online were treated to an unforgettable New Year’s Eve with laser shows and fireworks -
Bluewaters Island hosted a three-minute-long fireworks show to ring in the new year. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Revellers welcomed the new year against a backdrop of mesmerising light and sparkle. Antonie Robertson / The National -
On the other side of the bridge, The Beach, JBR, hosted its own fireworks show in tandem with Bluewaters Island. Antonie Robertson / The National -
The display also lasted for three minutes. Antonie Robertson / The National -
The fireworks gave residents and visitors a memorable show. Antonie Robertson / The National -
The JBR fireworks were full of colour. Antonie Robertson / The National -
The fireworks light up the water at JBR. Antonie Robertson / The National -
New Year fireworks at Yas Bay in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National -
Residents and visitors turned out in large numbers to see the fireworks at Yas Bay. Pawan Singh / The National -
Yas Island hosted two fireworks shows: the traditional one at midnight and an earlier one at 9pm, which allowed families with younger children to see the lights spectacle. Pawan Singh / The National -
Visitors were treated to some spectacular fireworks. Pawan Singh / The National -
The fireworks lit up Yas Bay. Pawan Singh / The National -
Al Maryah Island had a 10-minute fireworks display. Deepak Fernandez / The National -
The fireworks could be viewed from the promenade. Deepak Fernandez / The National -
Fireworks on Al Maryah Island had plenty of colour and variation. Deepak Fernandez / The National
