Dubai sets new world record with New Year’s fireworks display

Watch Dubai’s record-setting New Year’s fireworks show

Updated 5:40 p.m. EST:

Dubai ushered in the New Year by blasting away the old world record for largest fireworks display. The display, which launched more than 500,000 fireworks over six minutes and spanned 60 miles of the Dubai coast, was seen by more than 1 million people around the city.

Original text, posted Dec. 31, 2013 at 2 p.m. EST:

Dubai hopes to start 2014 off with a bang.

In an attempt to set the world record for the largest fireworks display in history, 500,000 fireworks are set to erupt over the city. According to the The Guinness World Records, the finale will “create an artificial ‘sunrise’ along the seafront.”

200 technicians worked for 5,000 hours to ensure that the show goes off without a hitch in order to beat Kuwait’s 2012 world record launch of 77,282 fireworks.

You’ll be able to watch the countdown to Dubai’s midnight fanfare at 2:45 p.m. EST.

H/T Colleen Shalby