Winter in Dubai is celebration season, and the city marks it the way it does everything: with fireworks, fountain shows and drone shows that light up the skyline almost every night from late November to mid-January. From the New Year’s Eve fireworks at the Burj Khalifa to the nightly drone show at Bluewaters during the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), this page lists where and when to watch – and where to stand.
Fireworks nights
Through the winter, several locations host fireworks, fountain shows and drone shows, mostly at weekends and daily during DSF and the festive weeks. The main ones:
- Dubai Festival City Mall: home of the IMAGINE water, laser and fire show on Festival Bay, roughly hourly every evening from around 18:00, with extra festive shows and fireworks in December. Best seats: the waterfront restaurant terraces. More information
- Bluewaters and The Beach, JBR: the record-breaking nightly drone show over the sea during DSF – free, best watched from The Beach promenade or the Bluewaters bridge.
- Global Village: fireworks over the festival grounds every weekend of the season, included in the entry ticket. More information
- Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain: fountain shows every 30 minutes from 18:00 to 23:00 daily, and the fireworks epicentre on New Year’s Eve. More information
New Year’s Eve fireworks
Dubai’s New Year’s Eve fireworks are among the most watched in the world, with the Burj Khalifa as the centrepiece: a synchronised fireworks, light and laser show on the tower itself at midnight. The Downtown area around the fountain is ticketed and closes to walk-ins from the afternoon, so plan a restaurant or viewing-deck booking early – our New Year’s Eve guide has the options. Other free fireworks spots at midnight: Atlantis The Palm, Bluewaters Island, The Beach at JBR, Al Seef on the Creek and Jumeirah Beach, all with live music and food on the night.
