Burj Khalifa dominates Dubai’s New Year’s Eve celebrations with a major light and fireworks display.
The skyscraper stands in Downtown Dubai and has become the visual centerpiece of the city’s annual countdown. Displays have combined fireworks, LED illumination, lasers, and projected imagery, turning the building’s vertical facade into a giant screen. The surrounding Dubai Mall and waterfront area attract large crowds, while millions more watch broadcasts and online streams.
Burj Khalifa opened in 2010 and remains the world’s tallest building, reaching 828 metres including its spire. Its height and stepped design make it especially suited to a display that can be seen across much of central Dubai.
The event is sometimes confused with celebrations at the Burj Al Arab, another famous Dubai landmark. Burj Al Arab has hosted its own spectacular events, but the landmark most closely identified with the city’s headline New Year countdown is Burj Khalifa.