Overview
- Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Festival set a 62‑minute centerpiece fireworks show with five Guinness record attempts and a 6,500‑drone display lasting 20 minutes.
- Dubai scheduled 48 synchronized fireworks at 40 locations, with a major Dubai Shopping Festival drone show at Bluewaters and The Beach under tight security and traffic plans.
- The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation is hosting New Year celebrations for workers at more than 30 sites on December 31 and January 1, complemented by Abu Dhabi’s holiday bus timetables and limited licensing and inspection services.
- The Mohammed bin Rashid humanitarian ship reached Egypt’s Al‑Arish port carrying over 7,300 tonnes of aid for Gaza, with offloading underway under directives from the UAE President.
- In southern Yemen, government‑aligned southern forces said they will not withdraw from current positions, as the Southern Transitional Council blamed Rashad al‑Alimi and Islah for the Mukalla incident and rejected unilateral decisions, with supportive demonstrations reported in Al‑Mahra.