On Wednesday 31 December 2025, Abu Dhabi’s major districts will combine elaborate New Year’s Eve dinners with waterfront fireworks to welcome 2026 in style. The main hotspots will again be Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental on the Corniche, Al Maryah Island’s promenade, and Yas Bay Waterfront, each offering different atmospheres and price levels. Historical pricing for New Year packages in these areas sits mostly between approximately AED 500 and AED 5,000 per adult, depending on the venue and inclusions. Families, couples, and solo guests will all find options, yet premium waterside tables already show strong early demand. New Year’s Eve dinner reservations with fireworks views in Abu Dhabi are expected to sell out well before mid-December.
John Legend gala dinner at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
For 2025–2026, the flagship New Year’s Eve event in Abu Dhabi centers on the John Legend Live on NYE Gala Concert at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental. The evening runs on Wednesday 31 December 2025 from 20:00 until late, with a welcome reception, opening performances, full John Legend concert, and midnight fireworks over the palace beach. Packages include luxury gourmet dining at private tables, unlimited premium beverages, and access to an after-party with an international DJ. Ticket categories start from about AED 2,500 per person for Silver and climb significantly for Gold, Diamond, and Royal tables, placing this firmly in the ultra-premium segment. Tickets are sold via official partners FEVER, PLATINUMLIST and DISTRICT, so guests should only book through these channels or directly with the organiser.
Palace terrace and restaurant dinners with fireworks views
Alongside the gala, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental traditionally opens several restaurants and terraces for New Year’s Eve dinners with direct sightlines to the fireworks. Lebanese Terrace, Martabaan by Hemant Oberoi, and the main brasserie Vendôme usually offer multi-course menus with live entertainment, outdoor seating, and access to the beachside countdown. Prices for these dinners typically sit from approximately AED 800 to AED 1,200 per adult, with separate children’s pricing where available, although the exact 2025–2026 tariffs will be confirmed closer to the date. Because hotel guests on 31 December often face a mandatory gala or festive dinner supplement, outside visitors should ask specifically whether their booking covers terrace access or only indoor seating. Valet parking at the palace is free for the John Legend event and usually extended to dinner guests, but road closures on the Corniche can delay arrival after 20:00. To secure a table with a clear view of the fireworks, guests should reserve early and request terrace seating in writing.
Fine dining with fireworks on Al Maryah Island waterfront
Al Maryah Island will again stage one of the most popular midnight fireworks displays, with the promenade, Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Four Seasons, and The Galleria’s waterfront restaurants all overlooking the show. In previous years, the island delivered a ten-minute or longer display plus live music and family activities, and 2025–2026 plans follow the same structure with drone and light shows leading into midnight. Waterfront restaurants such as 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant, COYA Abu Dhabi, and other high-end venues in the hotels are already promoting New Year’s Eve menus with set courses and beverage packages. For example, 99 Sushi’s recent New Year packages on Al Maryah Island ranged from around AED 1,199 to AED 1,499 per person depending on seating position, while other venues on the promenade have sat closer to AED 700–1,000 for dinner and drinks. Al Maryah Island is particularly attractive for couples or small groups who want a fine-dining experience paired with a dramatic waterfront fireworks show.
99 Sushi Bar front-row fireworks experience
Within the Al Maryah cluster, 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi stands out for its direct, floor-to-ceiling views of the island’s fireworks. The restaurant is known for its extended tasting menus, high-end Japanese dishes, and a sophisticated atmosphere that skews strongly toward adults and couples rather than families with young children. For New Year’s Eve, it typically offers a single late sitting including a set multi-course menu, free-flowing beverages, and guaranteed window or terrace seats for those paying the highest tier. Guests should expect to pay approximately AED 1,400–1,800 per person for the best vantage points, with slightly lower pricing for interior tables that still offer a view through the glass. Because demand from hotel guests and regulars is intense, phone reservations are essential; the restaurant can be contacted via Four Seasons Abu Dhabi or directly on +971 2 672 3333. This venue is best treated as a once-a-year splurge for those who want a quiet yet luxurious setting for the midnight show.
Family-friendly dinner and fireworks at Central Yas Bay
For guests seeking something more relaxed and family-oriented, Central at Yas Bay Waterfront offers a different style of New Year’s Eve dinner. The venue combines a casual American-style restaurant with bowling lanes and a large arcade, giving children plenty to do while adults enjoy burgers, sharing platters, and drinks. For this year’s celebrations, the “Countdown to 2026 at Central” concept promotes front-row views of the Yas Bay fireworks, an NYC-inspired sharing menu, free-flow drinks for adults, and AED 100 arcade credits for younger guests. Past family brunch packages at Central have ranged around AED 350–600 per adult depending on drinks, so similar “approximately” pricing is expected here, with children’s tickets usually discounted and some ages four and under often eating free. Central is located at Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island, and reservations can be made via +971 4 423 8311, so it works well for residents of Yas or visitors staying nearby. Because the venue is strongly family-friendly, it is particularly suitable for children who need entertainment before and after the countdown.
Pan-Asian New Year’s Eve at Asia Asia Yas Bay
Just along the same promenade, Asia Asia Yas Bay will once more position itself as one of the most scenic restaurant choices for Yas Island fireworks. The multi-award-winning Pan-Asian restaurant enjoys an elevated view along Pier 71, overlooking YAS Bay Marina and its midnight display, and will again host a dedicated New Year’s Eve dinner with set courses and beverage packages. Weekend evening brunches at Asia Asia currently cost between AED 375 and AED 625 per person depending on drinks, and New Year’s Eve packages are expected to come in above this level, most likely in the approximate AED 600–1,000 range. The venue is popular with couples and groups of friends thanks to its lounge-style atmosphere, DJ sets, and late-night service, although well-behaved children are usually accepted for earlier sittings. For reservations, the restaurant lists a Yas Bay contact line around +971 2 235 8663, but bookings for the special night are often handled through pre-payment links shared after calling. Guests who want a stylish indoor setting with balcony access and a strong party atmosphere usually gravitate toward Asia Asia on New Year’s Eve.
Dinner cruises with Corniche and city fireworks
Beyond static restaurants, Abu Dhabi New Year’s Eve dinner cruises offer a moving viewpoint that sweeps past the Corniche skyline and key fireworks locations. Operators such as Rayna Tours and ARABIERS regularly advertise special yacht or dhow cruises on 31 December, typically including buffet or set-menu dinners, soft drinks or selected house beverages, and on-board entertainment. For 2024–2025, advertised Abu Dhabi New Year dinner cruises ran from approximately AED 500 per person for basic dhow experiences up to about AED 1,000–1,200 for larger yachts with premium dining, and similar ranges are expected for the 2025–2026 night. These cruises are particularly appealing to groups who want to avoid street crowds on the Corniche while still capturing uninterrupted photos of the fireworks. However, boarding times often start as early as 20:00, and late arrivals may not be accommodated once the vessel leaves the marina. Because vessels must stick to strict departure times, cruise guests should aim to reach the jetty at least 45–60 minutes before boarding closes.
Arriving from other Emirates and moving around the city
Visitors coming from Dubai or Sharjah on New Year’s Eve should treat the drive to Abu Dhabi as a peak-day operation, especially if they aim for Yas Island or the Corniche. The E11 can remain relatively smooth in the late afternoon, but congestion tends to build after 18:00 near key exits such as Yas Island, Saadiyat, and Al Bateen. Therefore, those with dinner bookings between 20:00 and 21:00 should ideally leave Dubai no later than 16:30–17:00, allowing time for service-station breaks and possible police diversions. Inside Abu Dhabi, public buses will continue to run, yet services may be crowded after midnight, so taxis or ride-hailing remain the most realistic options for returning to hotels. Guests staying in Dubai who do not want a late-night highway drive back should seriously consider booking an overnight stay in Abu Dhabi instead of attempting a post-fireworks return.
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