The seven countdowns (31 December 2025)
| Countdown | Time |
|---|---|
| First | 8pm |
| Second | 9pm |
| Third | 10pm |
| Fourth | 10:30pm |
| Fifth | 11pm |
| Sixth | Midnight |
| Seventh | 1am |
Source: Global Village’s release of 15 December 2025. Gulf News printed the same seven times that day.
Each countdown came with fireworks and a drone show, and the first was four hours before midnight. On 1 January 2026 Global Village said all seven shows had taken place.
Gates and tickets
On 31 December 2025 the park’s three gates were open from 4pm to 2am.
The countdowns, the fireworks, the drone shows and the DJ were included in the entry ticket. Global Village’s release gave no ticket price for the night, so check the price for 31 December 2026 when you buy.
This season
Global Village’s Season 31 runs from 14 October 2026 to May 2027, Khaleej Times reported, and the park’s own website shows the same dates. So it is open on Thursday 31 December 2026.
Last season the countdown times came in a release dated 15 December 2025, 16 days before the night. We change this page the day this season’s times are published.
A family evening
Last season the first countdown was at 8pm, so nobody had to stay up until midnight.
On 31 December 2026 the sun sets at 5:40pm, and it is dark soon after 6pm, well before an 8pm show.
Evenings are mild. On the last ten New Year’s Eves the airport readings averaged about 24°C at 8pm and 22°C at midnight. Last New Year’s Eve it was 21°C at 8pm and 20°C at midnight, so bring a layer for the later countdowns.
The day after is a holiday: 1 January 2027 is a Friday, and a public holiday on the UAE’s standing list.
Want a second option for children? On 31 December 2025 Expo City Dubai held a children’s countdown at 9pm at Al Wasl Plaza, in an event that ran from 8pm to 1am and cost AED 150. More ideas are in our family guide.
After the countdown
Planning dinner after an early countdown? Every dinner price published so far is in one table, and what else is announced for the night is in our events article.
