A breathtaking ‘Light Up 2018’ spectacle, complete with a successful official Guinness World Records attempt for the Largest light and sound show on a single building, has helped celebrate the New Year in style.
Covering the size of around 20 football pitches, the spectacular experience was created to celebrate New Year’s Eve and took place in Downtown Dubai at Burj Khalifa, the world’s Tallest building.
The new record beats that set in Hong Kong in 2013 on the ICC Building which was over an area of 46,641.52 sq metres.
‘Light Up 2018’ on Burj Khalifa, by contrast, spanned an impressive surface area of 109,252 sq metres (about 27 acres, the size of about 20 football fields) – more than double that of the earlier record.
The show helped kick start 2018 by celebrating the UAE’s achievements and paying tribute to the founding father of the nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to mark the ‘Year of Zayed’ in 2018.
Preparations started five months ago including design and installation of all the celebration’s aspects with more than 300 experts, including around 100 rope access specialists, who travelled from all over the world to produce what should be a breath-taking spectacle.
More than 7 km of power cabling and 25.3 km of rope have been put in place to help power this one-of-a-kind celebration.
The visual display was choreographed to music prepared by more than 80 UAE musicians who recorded the new arrangement at studios in Dubai and Cairo.
Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, said: "The UAE celebrates positivity and hope. The nation and its leadership inspire the world through breakthrough achievements while creating opportunities for people and businesses to thrive.
"The ‘Light Up 2018’ spectacle is our tribute to the nation, celebrating its accomplishments, and putting the UAE on the global map as a true hub where inspiring minds meet and connect."
Talal Omar, Guinness World Records' Country Manager for MENA, added: "As the global authority on record-breaking we have seen fascinating things from all over the world, however we are always keen to find out what records Emaar plan to attempt each year, to support them as they continue to push the boundaries of technology and innovation in these attempts."
