The UAE is gearing up for another unforgettable New Year’s Eve, and the 2025 New Year events in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah show just how much excitement is already in the air. The programme spans major fireworks, headline concerts, gala dinners, family-friendly festivals and community celebrations. From the scale of the Dubai New Year 2025 events to the star-studded Abu Dhabi New Year celebrations 2025, and the cultural focus of Sharjah, this year’s lineup offers something for every kind of celebration. Whether you are planning to catch the New Year fireworks in Dubai 2025 or searching for family New Year events in Sharjah, here is what has been confirmed so far.

Dubai continues to lead the celebrations with a programme that blends large-scale shows and nightlife with family-friendly attractions. One of the most anticipated evenings will take place at Atlantis, The Palm, where Maroon 5 headlines the annual New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner — one of the centrepieces of the UAE New Year events schedule.

Fireworks remain central to the city’s celebrations, with confirmed displays at Burj Khalifa and Global Village, and Downtown Dubai preparing its familiar free viewing zones for crowds gathering for the countdown. Visitors using public transport should check the public transport schedule for New Year’s Eve in Dubai once the RTA releases final timings closer to the date.

While the countdown crowds gather around the city’s landmarks, nightlife venues will be running some of the biggest New Year parties in the UAE 2025. Ushuaia Dubai Harbour Experience hosts CamelPhat, Mahmut Orhan, Andrea Oliva and Birds of Mind — an electronic lineup that rivals major international stages. For a more relaxed vibe, Barasti Beach brings in Will Sparks and Tungevaag for a beachfront celebration.

Dining remains a significant part of the evening in Dubai, with restaurants across the city preparing dedicated Dubai New Year dinner 2025 menus. From family-friendly early seatings to multi-course feasts at top hotels, options range across Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, JBR and Downtown.

Abu Dhabi’s approach to New Year’s Eve blends elegance with headline entertainment. Among the largest New Year’s Eve 2025 events in Abu Dhabi is the John Legend concert at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental. Hosted outdoors by the sea, the evening includes gourmet dining, fireworks and an exclusive DJ-led after-party.

Saadiyat Island adds major star power to the celebrations with a Ricky Martin performance, one of the headline highlights among the New Year concerts Abu Dhabi is hosting this year. The Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Residences Emirates Pearl is also joining the festivities with a pearl-and-gold-themed evening featuring live bands, DJs and views over the Arabian Gulf.

Fireworks across the emirate will take place at Abu Dhabi Corniche, Emirates Palace and the Sheikh Zayed Festival, giving visitors multiple options for securing a good viewing point — particularly useful for those searching for the best places to watch fireworks in the UAE.

Sharjah’s New Year’s Eve atmosphere is calmer but rich in culture and community spirit. The emirate consistently focuses on family-friendly programming, and family New Year events in Sharjah for 2025 follow the same direction. One of the highlights is the Al Hamriyah Children’s Festival, a series of workshops, cultural competitions, educational games and handicraft activities designed to keep families entertained throughout the day. Many of the Sharjah New Year events in 2025 are free programmes that take place in open, accessible public spaces, making Sharjah one of the most relaxed places to celebrate in the UAE.

Where to celebrate with family across the UAE

Families have no shortage of options across the three emirates. Those wondering where to celebrate New Year with family in Dubai can choose between early fireworks at theme parks, beachside dinners, marina promenades and family-oriented festivals. Abu Dhabi’s Corniche and festival areas offer broad public spaces suitable for children, while Sharjah remains the most community-focused, with a quieter environment that appeals to families avoiding late-night crowds.

The complete UAE New Year events schedule at a glance

From the major Dubai New Year 2025 events and the music-heavy Abu Dhabi New Year celebrations 2025 to the cultural and family-focused programming in Sharjah, the UAE offers a varied and vibrant selection of ways to welcome 2026. Whether you are heading for the iconic New Year fireworks in Dubai 2025, planning a concert night, searching for family New Year events in Sharjah, or simply exploring your options through the UAE New Year events schedule, this year’s celebrations promise something for every age, budget and preference. With a mix of gala dinners, rooftop parties, cultural festivals and landmark firework displays, New Year’s Eve 2025 is set to be one of the UAE’s most memorable yet.