Abu Dhabi New Year 2027: Countdown & Fireworks

New Year 2027 arrives in Abu Dhabi at midnight GST (UTC+4) on Friday, January 1, 2027, which is 20:00 UTC on Thursday, December 31, 2026.

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until midnight in Abu Dhabi (GST, UTC+4)

Fireworks 2027: Not announced yet

2027 event

Abu Dhabi Fireworks 2027

Not announced yet The Sheikh Zayed Festival, which has staged Abu Dhabi's main New Year's Eve fireworks and drone show at Al Wathba, is an annual festival, but its 2026–2027 season and New Year's Eve programme have not been announced. Last year (New Year 2026) it set a Guinness World Record for the longest continuous firework show (62 minutes 18 seconds) and flew 6,500 drones.

Event
Sheikh Zayed Festival New Year's Eve celebration
Type
Fireworks
Where
Usually held at Sheikh Zayed Festival, Al Wathba
When
Traditionally at 00:00 (GST)
Admission
Last year: ticketed
Organizer
Sheikh Zayed Festival Higher Organising Committee
Watch live
Last year (New Year 2026) CNN scheduled live check-ins from the festival, and the festival said more than 600 international television networks and news agencies broadcast the celebrations live. Broadcasters for this year have not been announced.

Official updates

Where to watch in Abu Dhabi

  1. Sheikh Zayed Festival grounds, Al Wathba — Ticketed entry (AED 10 standard entry in the 2025–26 season); more than 163,000 visitors attended on New Year's Eve 2025, and entry was to close once capacity was reached
  2. Public areas around the festival — The festival reported over half a million people watching the New Year's Eve 2025 fireworks from surrounding public areas
  3. Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island — Listings for New Year's Eve 2025 had fireworks on Yas Island at 9 pm and at midnight; viewing was free except from the pier, which was limited to guests with restaurant reservations
  4. Abu Dhabi Corniche — Listings for New Year's Eve 2025 had the Mother of the Nation Festival on the Corniche ending its 31 December programme with a fireworks show along the coast, visible from spots such as Corniche Beach

Getting there

  • The festival is at Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi. For the 2025–26 season it published bus timings for regular services to and from the festival grounds on its Plan Your Visit page.
  • For the New Year's Eve 2025 celebration the organisers added entry and exit gates, widened pedestrian paths and strengthened safety and medical services. They said entry would close once capacity was reached and urged visitors to buy tickets early.

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AT A GLANCE

Timezone
Gulf Standard Time (GST)
UTC Offset
UTC+4
Midnight arrives
Friday, January 1, 2027 at 12:00 AM GST
Celebration order
16th of 37 cities to celebrate (same time as Dubai)

How Abu Dhabi celebrates

In recent years Abu Dhabi's main New Year's Eve celebration has been held at the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba. Guinness World Records describes the festival as an annual cultural event that each year features a large-scale New Year's celebration with performances, attractions and fireworks.

At its New Year's Eve 2025 celebration, the festival set a Guinness World Record for the longest continuous firework show, at 62 minutes 18 seconds, and flew 6,500 drones in a 20-minute show. Organisers reported more than 163,000 visitors on site and over half a million watching from surrounding public areas.

Entry to the festival grounds is ticketed, while the fireworks can also be seen from public areas around Al Wathba. In recent years Abu Dhabi has also announced New Year's Eve fireworks at Yas Island and along the Corniche, so the celebrations are not limited to one site.

Frequently asked questions

Will there be fireworks in Abu Dhabi for New Year 2027?

Not announced yet. The Sheikh Zayed Festival at Al Wathba has staged a large New Year's Eve fireworks and drone show in recent years, and Guinness World Records calls it an annual event that features a large-scale New Year's celebration each year. The festival's 2026–2027 season and its New Year's Eve programme have not been announced.

When did last year's drone show and fireworks start in Abu Dhabi?

Last year (New Year 2026) a 20-minute show by 6,500 drones was scheduled to begin at 11.30 pm, followed by the main fireworks display at midnight.

Where can you watch New Year's Eve fireworks in Abu Dhabi?

Listings for New Year's Eve 2025 included the Sheikh Zayed Festival at Al Wathba (ticketed, with crowds also watching from public areas around it), two shows at Yas Bay Waterfront at 9 pm and midnight, and a show along the Corniche tied to the Mother of the Nation Festival. Venues for New Year's Eve 2026 have not been announced.

What time is New Year in Abu Dhabi?

New Year arrives in Abu Dhabi at midnight Gulf Standard Time (GST, UTC+4). In 2027, that is 20:00 UTC on December 31, 2026.

Where is the best place to watch New Year's Eve in Abu Dhabi?

In recent years the Sheikh Zayed Festival at Al Wathba has been the main New Year's Eve venue, with ticketed entry to the festival grounds, and fireworks have also been announced for Yas Island and along the Corniche.

What time zone is Abu Dhabi on New Year's Eve?

Abu Dhabi is on Gulf Standard Time (GST, UTC+4) year-round. The UAE does not observe Daylight Saving Time.

Do Abu Dhabi and Dubai celebrate New Year at the same time?

Yes. Both cities are on Gulf Standard Time (UTC+4), so midnight arrives at the same moment in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Is Abu Dhabi one of the first or last cities to celebrate New Year?

Among the 37 cities on this site, Abu Dhabi is the 16th to reach midnight, at the same time as Dubai. At UTC+4, it celebrates relatively early in the global celebration window.

Where do people celebrate New Year's Eve in Abu Dhabi?

A focal point for New Year's Eve celebrations in Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Zayed Festival, Al Wathba. See the where-to-watch list above for more places.

What time should I tune in to watch Abu Dhabi's New Year celebration?

Midnight arrives in Abu Dhabi at 12:00 AM GST (UTC+4) on Friday, January 1, 2027. The main moment of Sheikh Zayed Festival New Year's Eve celebration traditionally begins at midnight (00:00 GST). Last year (New Year 2026) CNN scheduled live check-ins from the festival, and the festival said more than 600 international television networks and news agencies broadcast the celebrations live. Broadcasters for this year have not been announced.

How long was the Sheikh Zayed Festival fireworks show?

At its New Year's Eve 2025 celebration the festival's main fireworks display lasted 62 minutes 18 seconds, which Guinness World Records recognises as the longest continuous firework show. It ran alongside a 20-minute show by 6,500 drones.

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This page provides a live countdown to New Year 2027 in Abu Dhabi (Gulf Standard Time, UTC+4). New Year's Day 2027 in Abu Dhabi falls on Friday, January 1, 2027 at midnight GST. In recent years the city's main celebration has been at the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba, an annual festival whose New Year's Eve fireworks and drone shows have set Guinness World Records. Abu Dhabi shares its time zone with Dubai.