A Phoenix in the sky: Ras Al Khaimah sets New Year record

Ras Al Khaimah welcomed 2026 with an impressive 15-minute New Year’s Eve show combining drones and fireworks, earning a new Guinness World Records title for the largest aerial phoenix formed by multirotor drones.

The celebration featured a large-scale drone display above the waterfront, with 2,300 drones creating animated scenes in the night sky. The highlight was a giant phoenix, a symbol of renewal, brought to life with the help of 1,000 pyro drones that gave its wings a glowing, flame-like effect.

Another striking formation, titled The Welcome, showed a human figure rising from the sea with open arms, reflecting the emirate’s message of hospitality.

As midnight neared, the drone performance gave way to a coordinated fireworks countdown. A six-kilometre display lit up the coastline from Marjan Island to Al Hamra, filling the sky with colour and sound.

Thousands of residents and visitors watched the show from beachfront resorts and festival areas, enjoying live entertainment throughout the evening. An earlier fireworks display at Corniche Al Qawasim added to the festive atmosphere.

According to the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, the event was designed to unite the community while celebrating the emirate’s progress and welcoming the new year with optimism.