Dubai Set a Record With Its NYE Fireworks Show -- Here's Video of the Whole Thing

Leave it to Dubai, one of the most opulent cities in the world, to ring in the new year with a record-setting bang.

The United Arab Emirates city put on what the Guinness Book of World Records deemed was the largest fireworks display of all time.

Fireworks explode over Palm Jumeirah in Dubai on January 1, 2014 to celebrate the new year. Dubai kicked off New Year with a dazzling bid for a new world record to cap those the Gulf city state already holds for its mammoth property developments. The glittering fireworks display that lasted around six minutes spanned over 100 kilometres (60 miles) of the Dubai coast, which boasts an archipelago of man-made islands and Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower. (KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images)

The show, which took about 10 months of planning, included a half a million fireworks and lasted about six minutes. Some of the city's most notable landmarks were featured in the display, including Palm Jumeirah, World Islands, the Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab, according to Guinness.

"The scale of this record attempt is truly impressive and will ensure all eyes are on Dubai," Alistair Richards, Global President of Guinness World Records, said in a statement ahead of the record-breaking attempt.

Image source: YouTube

Image source: YouTube

Although setting off 500,000 fireworks took less than 10 minutes, the show as a whole lasted 30 minutes with music and lighting effects. Watch the footage, skipping to 29:40 to see the start of the fireworks:

The performance was designed and coordinated using 100 computers by Fireworks by Grucci, a U.S. pyrotechnics firm. Hundreds of experts ensured the event went off without a hitch.

The previous record for largest fireworks show was set in 2012 in Kuwait with 77,282 fireworks.

(H/T: NPR)

--

[related]