Ras Al Khaimah has published the plan for its New Year’s Eve celebrations, and anyone hoping to watch the main fireworks and drone show in person will need to register in advance. Entry to the RAK NYE festival is free, but registration is compulsory for every visitor, including children, and it opens on November 15.
The details were released by Visit Ras Al Khaimah on the official RAK NYE website and reported by Khaleej Times and Gulf News.
Date, venue and show times
The festival takes place at Jais Festival Ground on the waterfront and runs for 11 hours, from 4pm on December 31 until 3am on January 1. According to the official schedule:
- 4pm: gates open, with food and games until 2am
- 5pm: DJ sets begin
- 7.30pm, 8.30pm and 9.30pm: roaming parades with performers
- 11pm: DJ countdown party
- 11.50pm to 12.05am: the RAK NYE Sky Show, combining fireworks and synchronised drones along about 5km of coastline
- Until 3am: afterparty with live DJs
Organisers say timings are provisional and may change. A separate fireworks display takes place at 9pm near Manar Mall, which can be watched from the mall promenade and the Corniche without registering.
How registration works
Registration is made through the official RAK NYE website from November 15. Each registration covers:
- one main guest plus up to four additional people, including children;
- one vehicle.
Larger groups, or families arriving in more than one car, need extra registrations. Children must be added under an accompanying adult and stay with them. Every visitor has to show the QR code sent by email at the entrance.
Al Marjan Island will be open on the night only to registered residents, their guests and people with hotel or restaurant bookings. Each apartment receives two digital car passes, while hotel and restaurant guests register using their booking confirmation, with car passes subject to availability.
Parking, shuttles and road closures
This is the part most likely to catch visitors out. Exit 122 is the only designated public car park. Parking there is free and opens at 10am, on a first-come, first-served basis. Driving directly to the festival is not allowed, and roadside parking is not permitted.
- Roads close at 7pm, so organisers advise arriving well before then.
- Free shuttle buses run in both directions between Exit 122 and the festival ground from 4pm, with the last bus at 3am.
- Taxis and ride-hailing cars can drop passengers at Exit 122, but everyone in the car must be registered.
- Exit 122 itself is not a viewing area for the fireworks.
The official site advises drivers coming from Dubai, Sharjah and the northern emirates to take Exit 119 from the E311, follow Al Shuhada Road and turn right onto Al Samil Road.
What to bring and what to leave at home
Bags are checked at the entrance. Small foldable chairs or stools are allowed, and organisers suggest bringing a charged phone, a power bank, warm layers and comfortable shoes. Items not permitted include outside food and drink (baby food and medical items are allowed), alcohol, personal fireworks, drones, laser pointers, glass containers, tents, picnic blankets, coolers, large bags, bicycles and e-scooters.
The Family Zone will have more than 25 activities, including giant chess and mini golf, and food trucks will operate through the evening. Those staying home can watch the midnight Sky Show on the official website’s live stream.
Planning other New Year’s Eve options in the UAE? See: Diljit Dosanjh Abu Dhabi New Year’s Eve concert: tickets now on sale.
Sources: RAK NYE (official), Khaleej Times, Gulf News
