New Year's Eve fireworks

Watch New Year's Eve fireworks from Dubai's Festival Bay this year!

Dubai Festival City Mall and Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah will treat you to spectacular firework displays on December 31 night to ring in the New Year. So decide on your venue now and be there well in advance!

For those of you who will miss the annual fireworks at the iconic Burj Khalifa - the world's tallest tower is going to have a brilliant light show instead - cheer up and head towards Dubai Festival City Mall. Be ready to be wowed by four free fireworks shows at 9 p.m., 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. and a grand finale at midnight to welcome the New Year!
The mall has announced a spectacular schedule that will include live musical performances and exciting shows from IMAGINE apart from the fireworks. The entertainment will kick off at 7 p.m.
Visitors can dine and view in style from any of the popular waterfront restaurants - Eataly, Serendipity 3, Nando's, Cheesecake Factory, Turkish Village, Joe's Crab Shack, Sugar Factory, Al Fanar, Peppermill, Texas Roadhouse, Motomachi, California Pizza Kitchen, Bucca di Beppo and the brand new Lebanese joint Semsom. Book your preferred restaurant well in advance to get the best view.

If you'd rather not spend on dining, settle down on the steps or around the Bay to watch the event absolutely free of charge. Ample parking is available, and enjoy some great shopping deals too.

Al Marjan Island RAK to host a glittering fireworks show
Nearby Ras al Khaimah beckons revellers with a spectacular show at Al Marjan Island, which has powered the emirate's tourism, hospitality and property sectors.
A team of 30 engineers, pyrotechnicians, fabricators and others are working on the project led by Phil Grucci, Creative Director of Fireworks by Grucci. Environmental-friendly, organic material such as wood, sulphur, charcoal from trees, and metals from the ground will be used for the actual shells of the fireworks.
Be there, and have a memorable start to 2018!

Test assignment for a portal.

Downtown Dubai Area Guide

Dubai loves to bask in superlatives - the world's tallest building, the world's largest mall or the world's largest suspended aquarium. Since last year, it has another attraction - the 2000-seat Dubai Opera for concert lovers. All this in an area of 2 square kilometres on Sheikh Zayed Road called Downtown Dubai. Not surprisingly, it is the crown of the emirate, with the Burj Khalifa standing tall as the jewel in that crown.

Tourists flock to this dynamic hub, developed by Emaar Properties, to marvel at the Burj. It is considered a wonderful locality to work or live in. If you find the glitz and glamour too heady, take a break and visit the Old Town nearby to get a feel of Dubai's culture and history.

What to see: The Dubai Mall is a one-stop destination for tourists and residents alike. If shopping doesn't interest you, you can watch sharks and rays and small fish glide past in the Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. Take a snap at the signature fountain inside the mall.

In the evenings, find a vantage point to enjoy the Dubai Fountain, where waters dance to the music against the background of the majestic Burj. Forget the milling crowd around you and lose yourself in its soulful music.

Access The Dubai Metro has a station inside the Dubai Mall, making it easy for the occasional shopper or the regular commuter. Several bus routes also serve the area.

The airport is only 10 km away. Taxis are also readily available outside the mall.

Parking is available at the mall but can be a problem on weekends.

Eateries: From swanky hotels to chic restaurants, the area offers the best for foodies.

Dubai Mall has numerous specialty restaurants apart from the food court.

Not to miss is At.mosphere in Level 122 of Burj Khalifa, if your wallet allows it.

Rents in the area remain at a premium but having an address in the Burj in particular is a matter of pride for the well-heeled. Annual rents for a two-bed apartment are in the range of AED 170,000 to 190,000.

* a test assignment for bayut.com