On Wednesday 31 December 2025, Abu Dhabi is preparing a network of family friendly zones for the 2026 New Year’s Eve fireworks, with shows planned along the Corniche, on Yas Island, at Hudayriyat Island, on Al Maryah Island and at the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba. These areas combine open spaces, promenades, parks and beach fronts where parents can move with strollers and young children while still keeping safe distances from the densest crowds. In recent years Abu Dhabi has steadily expanded its New Year program, adding earlier shows at Yas Bay for children and record breaking displays at Al Wathba, and the 2025 to 2026 transition will follow the same family focused pattern. Most waterfront fireworks remain free to watch from public areas, while selected seaside events and festivals charge modest entry fees or optional seating packages. For parents planning to be out with children on New Year’s Eve, the main task is to match the energy level of each area with their family’s needs and bedtime.
Abu Dhabi Corniche waterfront family viewing zones
Abu Dhabi Corniche will again host one of the core midnight shows, with an eight kilometre stretch of promenade, landscaped parks and play areas giving families room to move. Families typically spread out along Corniche Beach, the Family Beach sections and the parks opposite the skyline, where the fireworks lift high enough to clear most buildings. On New Year’s Eve these lawns and promenades usually start to fill from around 20:30, yet parents can still find calmer pockets nearer the Marina Mall side or closer to the breakwater. Car access uses the main Corniche Street, with paid Mawaqif parking and some free bays inland, so it helps to arrive before 20:00 if you want a short walk to the water. Parking capacity is limited, especially near the most popular sections of Corniche Beach (children/family-friendly).
Yas Bay Waterfront early fireworks for young children
Yas Bay Waterfront on Yas Island now serves as Abu Dhabi’s headline family zone thanks to its two fireworks shows, an early display at 21:00 for children and a second one at midnight on Wednesday 31 December 2025. Families can watch from the pedestrian waterfront, the small lawn pockets, or in front of casual restaurants and cafés, then either drive home after the 21:00 show or stay on for the later one. Current information again highlights Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Marina and Yas Beach as the ideal places on the island to see the displays clearly. Because Yas Bay also runs festive programs and roaming entertainment, children can enjoy music and performers before the fireworks. Early arrival is strongly recommended for the 21:00 show, which targets families with younger children (children/family-friendly).
Hudayriyat Island Marsana beach celebrations
Hudayriyat Island has quickly become one of Abu Dhabi’s most popular leisure spots, and Marsana Beach there will again host a family orientated New Year’s Eve event with fireworks. Recent announcements describe an evening program on Wednesday 31 December running roughly from 20:00 to 01:00, including a live DJ, dancers, fire shows and a midnight display over the water. Families can either buy packages such as a sun lounger with food and beverage credit, priced around 300 AED per adult in current promotions, or simply enjoy the wider public beachfront and walkway. The area offers playgrounds, splash zones and casual dining, which helps children stay engaged while waiting for midnight. Tickets are required for reserved loungers and designated event zones, while general access to Hudayriyat Island itself remains free (children/family-friendly).
Sheikh Zayed Festival Wonderland in Al Wathba
For families willing to travel slightly outside the city, the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba offers perhaps the most spectacular New Year’s Eve program in the capital. The 2025 to 2026 edition runs from Saturday 1 November 2025 to Sunday 22 March 2026 and includes a huge New Year’s Eve segment promising one of the world’s longest coordinated fireworks and drone shows, expected to last close to 50 minutes around midnight. The site now features a large Wonderland Entertainment City with extra rides and attractions specifically designed for children and teenagers, alongside heritage pavilions, parades and cultural performances. Entry to the festival costs 10 AED per person, with free admission for children under three, seniors and People of Determination, which keeps it accessible compared with many city centre events. However, families should remember that Al Wathba lies roughly 45 minutes by car from central Abu Dhabi, so the trip needs planning when kids may already feel sleepy. Parents who want maximum spectacle for older children can expect one of the longest and most intense fireworks displays in the country at the Sheikh Zayed Festival (children/family-friendly).
Al Maryah Island promenade for mixed age families
Al Maryah Island’s South Plaza and promenade have become a regular focus for New Year’s Eve, with a fireworks and laser show timed for midnight alongside live music and seasonal entertainment. Families can spend the evening inside The Galleria Al Maryah Island, where restaurants and cafés offer indoor seating, then move outside shortly before midnight to watch the display from the wide waterfront promenade. The layout makes it easier to keep children in strollers or close to barriers while still preserving good sightlines to the towers and pyrotechnics. Underground parking beneath The Galleria is extensive, but it can still back up between 21:00 and 23:00, especially once more residents arrive for the show. Public access to the promenade remains free, which makes Al Maryah Island a flexible mixed age option combining mall comforts with outdoor fireworks (children/family-friendly, also suitable for couples).
Yas Island theme parks and hotel stays with kids
Beyond Yas Bay itself, Yas Island’s theme parks and hotels also frame New Year’s Eve as a full family staycation, with many packages combining park access and fireworks viewing. Families can spend Wednesday 31 December 2025 inside Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi or Yas Waterworld, where daytime temperatures stay comfortable for outdoor queues, then head to Yas Bay Waterfront before 21:00 for the early show. Typical day tickets for the major parks currently sit roughly between 325 and 375 AED per adult, with multi park and hotel deals offering better value for larger families. Hotels on Yas Island often add New Year’s Eve buffets or terrace dinners, sometimes with partial views of the fireworks from within the property. For parents who want activities from morning until midnight in one compact area, Yas Island’s combination of theme parks, hotels and Yas Bay fireworks works especially well (children/family-friendly).
Quieter viewpoints away from the densest crowds
Not every family wants to stand in the noisiest viewing zone, so some parents look for slightly quieter positions that still offer good angles on the fireworks. Sections of the Corniche closer to the Marina Mall side or along the breakwater often feel less crowded than the central beach areas while still showing most of the midnight display. Parks on Reem Island and parts of Saadiyat Island may also provide partial views of the Corniche or Yas Island fireworks, although the shows will appear more distant. In these areas parents can usually spread out picnic blankets, bring folding chairs and keep younger children further from any loudspeakers and dense crowds. Regardless of the viewpoint, families should always respect local closures, follow security instructions and avoid parking on hard shoulders near highways or bridges (children/family-friendly).
Travel planning for families from other emirates
Families driving in from Dubai, Sharjah or Al Ain on New Year’s Eve should treat the trip almost like a long weekend journey, especially when children travel in car seats. Traffic along the E11 into Abu Dhabi tends to build after 18:00, particularly near Yas Island exits, so it is wise to aim for arrival in the city between 16:30 and 18:00 if you have plans at Yas Bay or Al Maryah. Parents heading directly to Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba can prefer the E30 and follow festival signage, allowing at least 45 minutes from central Abu Dhabi and more if leaving during the evening peak. After midnight, exit queues from Yas Island, Hudayriyat and Al Wathba often stretch for some time, and tired children may fall asleep in the car very quickly. Many families therefore choose to leave their viewing area only after 01:00, once the heaviest traffic has eased, or to stay overnight in Abu Dhabi instead of attempting a late return drive to other emirates (children/family-friendly).
Weather, clothing, traffic and booking reminders for parents
Early December 2025 forecasts for Abu Dhabi show hazy sunshine, daytime highs around 28 to 30 degrees and evening lows near 18 to 20 degrees, with no major rain alerts, and late December usually follows a similar mild, dry pattern. However, short term forecasts for Wednesday 31 December 2025 will only become reliable in the final days of the month, so parents should recheck conditions before travelling. Light layers work best for children and adults: breathable clothing for the afternoon, plus a thin jumper, hoodie or shawl for breezy waterfront spots at midnight, and comfortable closed shoes for walking across promenades, grass and sand. Ear protection for toddlers, strollers suitable for uneven paths and a small blanket or jacket for sleepy children can make the night much easier. Drivers should allow extra time for parking near Corniche, Al Maryah, Yas Island, Hudayriyat and Al Wathba, while those using taxis or ride hailing should expect delays around midnight and again as crowds depart. Ticketed events and packages for New Year’s Eve in Abu Dhabi typically appear on trusted platforms such as PLATINUMLIST, TICKETMASTER and FEVER, with all prices best treated as “approximately” until your reservation receives written confirmation. Make your reservation and transport plan early, because editors following the city for platforms like www.few.ae consistently note that the most comfortable family friendly New Year’s Eve spots in Abu Dhabi are the first to be fully taken every year.
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