The New Year Edition: Fireworks, Concerts, Culture Fests & Late-Night Parties

Good day, Abu Dhabi.

This is not a regular Monday edition.

This is your New Year’s Eve Special, bringing together everything happening across the capital on December 31 - from headline concerts and luxury gala dinners to waterfront celebrations, desert festivals, family-friendly events, and the best free fireworks displays.

Abu Dhabi does New Year’s Eve with space and variety, but planning still matters. Road closures start early, premium events sell out quickly, and the best viewing spots fill up well before midnight.

Below is your complete guide to New Year’s Eve in Abu Dhabi - clearly laid out, priced where relevant, and designed to help you choose the night that actually suits how you want to start the year.

Let’s get into it.

The capital’s most prestigious New Year’s Eve event. Hosted at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, this gala features a live performance by John Legend, gourmet tasting stations, premium beverages, and a midnight fireworks display on the palace grounds.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental - Terrace (Open-Air Venue)
💰 Cost: From AED 3,500+
👉 Find out more

Why this matters:
This is Abu Dhabi’s headline NYE moment - global artist, iconic venue, and a once-a-year gala format that draws an international crowd.

A major Arabic music celebration bringing together two of the region’s biggest stars for a live New Year’s Eve concert.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: Abu Dhabi
💰 Cost: From AED 495+
👉 Book tickets

Best for:
Fans of contemporary Arabic pop looking for a concert-led countdown rather than a dining experience.

Part of the capital’s Mother of the Nation (MOTN) Festival celebrations, Ramy Sabry headlines a large-scale festival crowd with fireworks, food zones, and family-friendly attractions.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: MOTN Festival, Abu Dhabi
💰 Cost: From AED 225+
👉 View event details

Why it works:
Festival atmosphere, accessible pricing, and a crowd that spans families, groups, and music fans.

One of the biggest New Year’s Eve concert announcements in the capital. Alicia Keys headlines a special New Year’s Eve edition of Saadiyat Nights, bringing a full live performance to Saadiyat Island as the city counts down to 2026.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: Saadiyat Island
💰 Cost: Prices vary by seating category (From AED 295+)
👉 Find out more & book tickets

Why this stands out:
This is a rare chance to welcome the new year with a global, Grammy-winning artist in a pure concert format - no set menus, no black-tie structure, just a major live show on one of Abu Dhabi’s premier cultural islands.

One of the UAE’s most ambitious public New Year’s Eve celebrations returns with a 62-minute continuous fireworks display, enhanced by thousands of drones forming large-scale 3D visuals inspired by Emirati heritage.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: Al Wathba
💰 Cost: From AED 10
👉 Find out more

Why it’s special:
This is not just a countdown, it’s a full evening of cultural performances, heritage villages, food stalls, rides, and activities, making it one of the best-value NYE experiences in the UAE.

A desert-based New Year’s Eve experience combining fireworks, live entertainment, food trucks, and cultural activities set against the dunes of the Empty Quarter.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: Liwa
💰 Cost: From AED 10+
👉 Explore Liwa Village

Vibe:
Open skies, desert air, and a slower, more atmospheric countdown than city-based events.

A dedicated NYE programme within Liwa Village featuring live shows, fireworks, and late-night entertainment extending beyond midnight.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: Liwa
💰 Cost: From AED 10+
👉 Find out more

An Oscars-style gala featuring a red-carpet arrival, international buffet, free-flowing drinks, and live band and DJ entertainment under the stars.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: Abu Dhabi Golf Resort
💰 Cost: From AED 449+
👉 Find out more

Ideal for:
Groups and couples who want a classic gala experience without palace-level pricing.

A themed masquerade gala set in an open-air desert resort environment, complete with curated buffet, live entertainment, and a midnight countdown under the stars.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: Al Dhafra
💰 Cost: Event For Resort Guests Only
👉 View event details

A luxury desert majlis experience featuring live cooking stations, signature dishes, and starlit surroundings deep in the Empty Quarter.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: Qasr Al Sarab
💰 Cost: From AED 1,650+
👉 Find out more

Why go:
This is about atmosphere over fireworks — refined, remote, and deeply memorable.

A premium Japanese New Year’s Eve dinner with set menus, free-flowing drinks, and live dancers keeping the energy high into 2026.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: The Galleria, Al Maryah Island
💰 Cost: From AED 1,399+
👉 Find out more

A four-course Pan-Asian New Year’s Eve dinner with prime terrace views over Yas Bay’s fireworks. Tables here are among the most sought-after on the island.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: Yas Bay Waterfront
💰 Cost: From AED 550+
👉 Find out more

A rooftop buffet paired with free-flowing drinks, live beats, and elevated city views as midnight approaches.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: The St. Regis Abu Dhabi
💰 Cost: From AED 750+
👉 View event details

A beachfront gala featuring a high-end buffet, live band, DJ, and fireworks views across Saadiyat’s shoreline.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: Saadiyat Beach Club
💰 Cost: From AED 849+
👉 Book tickets

A full gala experience with live band, free-flowing drinks, and indoor or terrace seating options for the midnight countdown.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi
💰 Cost: From AED 899+
👉 Find out more

A costume-led NYE party combining DJs, themed décor, and a late-night crowd.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: Abu Dhabi
💰 Cost: From AED 200+
👉 Book tickets

A fashion-forward New Year’s Eve party blending masks, glamour, live entertainment, and DJs.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: Abu Dhabi
💰 Cost: From AED 250+
👉 Find out more

A waterfront party with live entertainment, food zones, and fireworks views — designed for groups and late-night energy.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: Hudayriyat Island
💰 Cost: From AED 100+
👉 View event details

A desert festival atmosphere combining fireworks, live entertainment, food stalls, and cultural activities set against the dunes.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: Liwa
💰 Cost: From AED 10+
👉 Explore Liwa Village

An extended New Year’s Eve celebration within Liwa Village featuring late-night shows and fireworks beyond midnight.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: Liwa
💰 Cost: From AED 10+
👉 Find out more

A relaxed, family-friendly NYE celebration with buffet dining, live entertainment, and a comfortable countdown format.

📅 Date: Wed, 31 Dec
📍 Location: Abu Dhabi Golf Resort
💰 Cost: From AED 449+
👉 Find out more

Yas Island hosts fireworks at earlier evening slots as well as midnight, making it ideal for families with younger children.

📍 Location: Yas Island
💰 Cost: Free
👉 Plan your visit

One of the most spectacular public NYE celebrations in the UAE, featuring a 62-minute continuous fireworks and drone show, cultural performances, heritage villages, and food stalls.

📍 Location: Sheikh Zayed Festival
💰 Cost: Free (minimal festival entry)
👉 Find out more

Miles of open waterfront allow plenty of space to watch midnight fireworks without tickets or reservations.

📍 Location: Abu Dhabi Corniche
💰 Cost: Free
👉 Plan your evening

Beachside areas and open spaces make this one of the calmest free countdown spots in the capital.

📍 Location: Al Hudayriyat Island
💰 Cost: Free
👉 Discover Hudayriyat

Expect cool winter evenings with temperatures around 14–16°C after dark. Outdoor events will be comfortable, but a light jacket is recommended, especially in desert and waterfront locations.

This wraps up your special Abu Dhabi guide to New Year’s Eve!

Abu Dhabi’s festivities are about range and balance - from palace-level galas to free, record-breaking fireworks under open skies. Whether you’re dressing up for a formal dinner, heading into the desert, or laying out a picnic along the Corniche, the capital offers a calmer, more spacious way to start the year.

If this guide helped you lock in plans, send it to someone still asking:
“So… what are we actually doing for New Year’s in Abu Dhabi?”

— Matthias