The Burj Khalifa fireworks are the most watched New Year’s Eve show in the UAE, and one of the most famous in the world. At midnight on 31 December 2026, the tower lights up with fireworks, lasers and LED effects synchronised with the Dubai Fountain to welcome 2027. You can watch for free from the streets of Downtown Dubai, buy a ticket for Burj Park, or book a dinner with a view. Here is how to plan each option.
Emaar has not yet published its 2027 programme. Prices and gates below are from last year’s show and will be updated as soon as the 2027 details are announced.
Can you watch the Burj Khalifa fireworks for free?
Yes. The show is visible for free from the public areas around Downtown Dubai, and you do not need a ticket or badge for the free zones. Last year Emaar opened five public viewing gates:
- Gate 1: Boulevard Heights
- Gate 2: Burj Vista
- Gate 3: Emaar Square
- Gate 4: the former Address Boulevard
- Gate 5: Fountain Views
Large LED screens along the Boulevard show the show live for people further back. Free public parking was available at Emaar Square. The free areas fill up many hours before midnight, and once a zone is full the gates close, so most people arrive in the afternoon.
Burj Park: the ticketed front-row view
Burj Park, at the foot of the tower beside the Dubai Fountain, is the only ticketed viewing zone in Downtown Dubai and offers an uninterrupted view of the show. Last year tickets cost AED 997.50 for adults and AED 577.50 for children aged 5 to 12, with free entry for under-fives. Doors opened at noon, with live entertainment, kids’ workshops and food trucks during the afternoon and evening. Tickets are sold online only through Emaar’s official New Year’s Eve website and its ticketing partner, and they sell out, so book as soon as 2027 sales open. Never buy resold Burj Park badges on social media.
Restaurants, hotels and rooftops with a Burj Khalifa view
For a seat, dinner and a guaranteed view, book a New Year’s Eve gala at a Downtown Dubai hotel or restaurant facing the tower. These are the most expensive tables of the night in the UAE, and the best ones go first. Compare every option on our New Year’s Eve with a Burj Khalifa view page, which shows the price, what is included and the view from each venue. Always ask whether your table actually faces the tower, as not every seat does.
Other ways to see the show
- From further away: Business Bay rooftops, Dubai Creek and Al Safa have distant views of the tower with easier roads home.
- On the water: dinner cruises on Dubai Canal and the Creek time their route for the midnight show. See our Dubai New Year’s Eve listings for yacht and dhow cruises.
- Elsewhere in Dubai: Dubai licensed 48 fireworks displays at 40 locations last year, including JBR, Bluewaters, Atlantis The Palm, the Burj Al Arab and Global Village, so you do not need to be in Downtown to see fireworks at midnight.
Getting there: Metro, parking and road closures
New Year’s Eve brings the heaviest traffic of the year to Downtown Dubai. Last year the RTA closed roads around the Burj Khalifa district in phases from the afternoon and suspended some public bus routes into the area, and it urged people to leave their cars at home. The Dubai Metro runs late on New Year’s Eve, but Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station gets extremely crowded, so consider getting off one stop early and walking. Taxis and ride-hailing are hard to find after midnight. Check the RTA’s 2027 traffic plan in late December.
Tips for the night
- Arrive early: the free zones and car parks fill up hours before midnight.
- Bring water, a charged phone and a light jacket, as it gets cool after dark in December.
- Agree a meeting point in case your group gets separated, as mobile networks are busy around midnight.
- With small children, consider Sharjah’s early fireworks, usually at 8pm, or a family gala with a view instead of the crowds.
- Plan to stay late: the crowds take an hour or more to clear, and 1 January 2027 is a public holiday.
Burj Khalifa fireworks: frequently asked questions
What time are the Burj Khalifa fireworks on New Year’s Eve?
The main Burj Khalifa fireworks start at midnight on 31 December, as Dubai welcomes 2027, after a countdown with lights, lasers and the Dubai Fountain.
Do I need a ticket to watch the Burj Khalifa fireworks?
No. The public viewing areas around Downtown Dubai are free and need no ticket or badge. Only Burj Park, at the foot of the tower, is ticketed.
How much are Burj Park tickets for New Year’s Eve?
Last year Burj Park tickets cost AED 997.50 for adults and AED 577.50 for children aged 5 to 12, with free entry for under-fives. Prices for 2027 have not been announced yet.
Where can I park to see the Burj Khalifa fireworks?
Last year free parking was available at Emaar Square, but it fills up early and roads in the area close in the afternoon. The Metro is the easiest way to get there.
Is 1 January 2027 a holiday in the UAE?
Yes. New Year’s Day, Friday 1 January 2027, is a public holiday, giving most residents a three-day weekend. The first working day is Monday 4 January.
Planning the rest of the night? See every party and gala on our New Year’s Eve in Dubai page, or compare celebrations across all seven emirates.