Dubai dazzles the night sky with hundreds of drones

In recent years, Dubai has broken numerous world records with its spectacular fireworks displays. To usher in 2023, laser and fireworks shows illuminated the United Arab Emirates, including the Burj Khalifa, which sought to set the record for the largest laser display ever.

But the aerial light shows aren’t finished yet. The city is taking its festive celebrations even further with a stunning light show featuring over 500 drones.

Skymagic, based in the UK and Singapore, specializes in drone-powered light shows that have lit up skies across the globe—from Zurich, Switzerland to Sydney, Australia—and even featured in Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.

'We view the sky as the ultimate canvas for storytelling, and the technology we use is all driven by that concept,' said Ollie Howitt, senior creative at Skymagic, in an interview with Dinogo.

The company is hosting two nightly drone shows in Dubai from December 15 to January 29, located at Bluewaters Island near the Dubai Marina.

Each show lasts about five minutes and showcases 3D animations centered on the theme of Dubai. The first show takes viewers through a tourist's day, starting with scenes of Dubai International Airport before transitioning into animated representations of the city's most famous landmarks. The second show portrays Dubai as a hub of innovation, featuring a robot exploring the futuristic city.

It’s estimated that over 500,000 people will witness the stunning drone displays lighting up Dubai’s skies during the holiday season. Suhail Maitreya, the project's manager, explains that organizing such a large-scale live event involves months of meticulous preparation.

'We begin the planning process as early as July, about six months before the first performance,' Maitreya shared. 'We start testing on-site about 10 days before the show begins. Initially, we fly one drone, then five, then 20. Finally, just three days before the first performance, the full fleet of 500 drones takes to the skies, and we begin to see the show come together.'

Sustainable visuals

Skymagic states that their drones are significantly smaller than typical delivery drones, with a weight range between 200 and 500 grams. 'Our latest fleet is more resistant to wind and rain than previous models, making it ideal for varying weather conditions, which is a crucial factor to consider when staging a drone show,' says Howitt.

Drones may offer a more eco-friendly alternative to fireworks, which can release harmful metal particles into the air, posing health risks and causing environmental harm.

'The main advantage is that drones leave no residue. They are entirely sustainable,' explains Maitreya. 'I believe that in the future, more cities around the world will choose drones over fireworks.'