Ras Al Khaimah Announces 2027 New Year Fireworks and Drone Shows Across 5km Coastline
Ras Al Khaimah is set to welcome 2027 with a spectacular fireworks and drone display stretching across 5km of coastline, alongside an 11-hour New Year's Eve festival featuring live entertainment, music and family activities.
The celebrations will take place on December 31, 2026, at the Jais Festival Ground, with the main fireworks and drone show scheduled from 11.50pm to 12.05am. Both displays will be synchronised with music as part of the emirate's midnight countdown.
According to Visit Ras Al Khaimah, the festival will begin at 4pm on December 31 and continue until 3am on January 1, 2027. Entry will be free, but visitors must register in advance through the official RAK NYE website. Registration opens on November 15.
A single registration can accommodate one main guest and up to four additional visitors, including children, along with one vehicle. Larger groups or visitors travelling in multiple vehicles will need separate registrations. Entry will require presentation of the registration QR code.
Separate registration arrangements have been introduced for general festival visitors, Al Marjan Island residents and their guests, and hotel and restaurant guests.
Road closures and parking arrangements
Road closures around the festival area will begin at 7pm on December 31, with organisers advising visitors to arrive early.
Exit 122 will serve as the designated public parking area, offering free parking from 10am on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors will not be permitted to drive directly to the festival venue, and roadside parking will be prohibited.
Free shuttle buses will operate between the car park and Jais Festival Ground from 4pm, with services running in both directions until the final departure at 3am. Organisers have clarified that the Exit 122 parking area will not serve as a fireworks viewing location.
Special access arrangements for Al Marjan Island
Access to Al Marjan Island on New Year's Eve will be restricted to registered visitors. Residents must register their households and guests, with each apartment eligible for two digital vehicle passes, each allowing one-time entry.
Hotel guests and visitors with restaurant reservations must register using their booking confirmations. Each booking can cover one main guest and up to four additional people, with one vehicle pass available per booking, subject to availability.
Additional fireworks display at Ras Al Khaimah Corniche
Residents and visitors will also have an opportunity to watch an earlier fireworks display at the Ras Al Khaimah Corniche at 9pm, opposite Julphar Towers.
The display can be viewed from the Manar Mall promenade and surrounding waterfront, with no advance registration required. Entry will be free on a first-come, first-served basis, and visitors can use Manar Mall's parking facilities.
For those unable to attend the main celebrations in person, the midnight fireworks and drone show will be streamed live on the official RAK NYE website. Organisers have confirmed that there will be no other official public viewing locations for this year's celebrations, although guests with confirmed hotel or restaurant bookings can watch from participating venues.
Live entertainment and family activities
The 11-hour festival will feature two main entertainment areas. The Stage Zone will host five DJs, live music and the midnight countdown, with MC Parikshit leading the celebrations.
The Family Zone will offer more than 25 activities, including giant chess, mini golf, football shooting, balloon darts, soft play areas and a 360-degree video booth.
A walking carnival will move between the two zones at 7.30pm, 8.30pm and 9.30pm, featuring Arabic dance performances by the Warrior Squad, acrobats, jugglers, LED characters, roaming mascots and a pyrotechnic show.
Food trucks will also operate throughout the festival, serving a selection of dishes, including burgers, pizzas, shawarma, tacos and desserts.
With coastal fireworks, drone performances and entertainment planned throughout the evening, Ras Al Khaimah is preparing to mark the arrival of 2027 with celebrations for residents, tourists and families.
