Ras Al Khaimah Sets Guinness World Record For Largest Drone Phoenix Display During New Year 2026

Ras Al Khaimah welcomed 2026 with a 15-minute New Year’s Eve drones and fireworks display that secured a Guinness World Records title for the largest aerial phoenix created by multirotor drones, reinforcing the emirate’s profile as a major regional event destination.

The celebration drew thousands of residents and visitors to beachfront resorts and the New Year’s Eve Festival, where the main show unfolded along the coast between Marjan Island and Al Hamra, supported by live stage performances and other entertainment throughout the night.

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At the centre of the Ras Al Khaimah New Year’s Eve programme was a large-scale drone show that turned the sky above the waterfront into animated scenes, with formations shifting in sequence before leading into a coordinated fireworks countdown at midnight.

The record-setting phoenix, a symbol of renewal and rebirth, used 2,300 drones, including 1,000 pyro drones that lit the wings to mimic flames as the figure appeared to glide above the shoreline, followed by a second formation named "The Welcome," which showed a human form rising from the sea with open arms to reflect Ras Al Khaimah’s hospitality and openness.

After the drone performance, the Ras Al Khaimah New Year’s Eve show moved into a synchronised fireworks segment, producing a six-kilometre-long display along the coastline, where hundreds of shells launched in waves, colouring the sky and creating a timed countdown that linked the different viewing points into one shared experience.

Families based in the emirate had earlier watched an additional Ras Al Khaimah New Year’s Eve fireworks show at Corniche Al Qawasim, while the main coastal festival continued late into the night with performances that aimed to appeal to a wide mix of age groups and visitors.

Phillipa Harrison, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said the celebration was designed to bring people together while recognising a year of progress for the emirate, and highlighted the importance of large public events for tourism and community engagement. "New Year’s Eve in Ras Al Khaimah is about bringing people together. With this year’s show, we wanted to create a celebration that could be shared by our entire community and everyone visiting Ras Al Khaimah at this special time," she said.

Harrison noted that the Ras Al Khaimah New Year’s Eve event also provided a chance for residents, investors and visitors to look back at recent development across the emirate and to greet 2026 with optimism, as authorities continue to use major celebrations and festivals to support the tourism sector and strengthen Ras Al Khaimah’s position within the wider Middle East market.

With inputs from WAM