A mesmerizing drone show featuring 1,000 drones lit up the night sky over Bluewaters Island on Friday, December 13, to celebrate the 30th Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF).
The 15-minute spectacle, starting at 8 PM, combined drones, dazzling fireworks, and skydivers with flares, offering an unforgettable experience for all in attendance.
The excitement began at 7:59 PM as the crowd eagerly prepared to capture the show. Families gathered along the waterfront, with children sitting on shoulders for a better view.
The drones painted stunning images in the sky, including the iconic DSF logo, a moving ballerina, a roller coaster, and a cyclist. Each formation amazed the audience and left them in awe.
A Year in the Making
Kaltham Al Shamsi, assistant manager of Events Planning at Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), shared insights into the extensive preparation. “Planning started back in December 2023,” she explained. “We faced challenges, reworked ideas, and created mood boards to achieve the perfect result. It’s a complex process that requires great attention to detail.”
The precision of the show highlighted the hard work behind the scenes. Kaltham explained, “Even one drone out of place can disrupt the entire performance. We began trials in November to ensure everything was perfect.”
A Magical Experience for Visitors
Russian tourist Svetlana described her first-time experience as magical. “This was my first time seeing something like this, and I was blown away,” she said. “I’m so glad I came here today.”
Sharon and Carlo Cuarto, visiting with their daughter Shanina, are frequent spectators of the drone show but never tire of it. “We’ve seen it many times, but it’s still amazing every time,” Sharon shared. “My husband even recorded the whole show on his phone.”
For 4-year-old Aaryan and his friend Shivanshi, the skydivers with fire-lit legs were the highlight. “The skydivers had fire coming out of their legs!” Aaryan exclaimed. “I loved it! And I said, ‘D for Dubai!’”
Unique Message in the Sky
This year, residents and visitors can submit personalized messages to be displayed in the sky. Kaltham noted, “It takes us 48 hours to plan a single message. The last day to submit is Wednesday, and it appears on Saturday.”
A Festival to Remember
The drone shows will run twice daily until January, featuring two themes. The first, from December 6 to 26, celebrates three decades of DSF’s history. The second, from December 27 to January 12, showcases 2D and 3D drone formations of iconic landmarks.
To close the festival, an encore show with 150 pyro-drones will light up the sky on January 11, leaving the audience amazed. The Dubai Shopping Festival 2024 promises to be an event filled with memories that last a lifetime.
