MAYS IBRAHIM (Al Wathba)
Thousands of people from around the world attended the Sheikh Zayed Festival at Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi, lured by the promise of a record-breaking display, featuring dazzling fireworks and synchronised drone formations, along with myriad artistic performances, recreational activities, and global culinary experiences.
A 40-minute display of fireworks and 5,000 drones adorned Al Wathba with mesmerising colours and patterns on New Year’s Eve, ringing in the new year. Vistors from all age groups and different parts of the world were spotted enjoying the show with their loved ones, many of whom shared their resolutions for 2024 with Aletihad. Aqsa from Pakistan was attending the festival with her husband and parents for the first time, looking to be “wowed” by its advertised celebratory programme.
“My new year’s resolution is to lose five kilogrammes, but I am off to a bad start with all these tempting food options,” Aqsa told Aletihad. Mohammad Al Shuhi, an Emirati national from Ras Al Khaimah, came to see the festival’s new year shows with his father and three brothers.
Al Shuhi is an aspiring chef, who plans to kick start his own home business for traditional Emirati dishes with the start of the new year.
The 16-year-old noted that his favorite thing about the festival is its “global” atmosphere with a host of pavilions, each representing a different county to introduce visitors to cultures from various parts of the globe.
Majdi, an expatriate from Egypt who recently moved to Abu Dhabi, was video calling his mother while waiting for the fireworks and drone show to kick off. “I am a bit homesick, but my day at the festival was just beautiful.
I am loving the cultural diversity of the atmosphere; taking a walk around the place gives you a glimpse of the culture of the UAE, Yemen, Tunisia, Turkey, and many other countries,” he told Aletihad.
Aletihad also spoke with Aguti, an expatriate from Uganda who was working at the festival, selling balloons and toys. Her wish for the new year is “a long happy life”.
“I enjoyed the festival, even though I was working. I got to meet a lot of people from different places, and enjoyed the smile put on the face of each child who bought a balloon from me,” she said.
“My wish for the new year is for everyone to get what they wished for,” Nimis, a Nepalese student currently studying computing in Abu Dhabi, told Aletihad. “I am mainly here for the drones, but the fireworks, the great food and music, along with the chance to meet new people, are all a plus for me,” he said.
Alya, an Emirati national attending the festival with a group of friends, was seen at a booth featuring a henna artist, who adorned the back of her hand with intricate designs made of the dark dye that is traditionally used for body art in the UAE.
“We usually spend New Year’s Eve at home, but we just couldn’t miss the fireworks this year, and we definitely made the right choice,” she said.
Aiden from the US came to the Sheikh Zayed Festival after spending a week camping at the Liwa desert with a group of friends for the 2024 Liwa International Festival - Moreeb Dune, which featured thrilling motorsport challenges.
“We heard about the fireworks and the drone show here, so we decided to come before going back to the states tomorrow evening. The memories we made this week will last us a lifetime. Abu Dhabi has it all,” he told Aletihad.
The Sheikh Zayed Festival runs until March 9, with daily hours from 4pm to midnight on weekdays, and until 1am on weekends and public holidays.