2019 RAS AL KHAIMAH NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS PRODUCED BY MARJAN AND FIREWORKS BY  GRUCCI SETS TWO GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS TITLES

Vision: Fireworks setting Guinness World Record for the ‘Longest chain of fireworks’. Audience watching from shore. Fireworks setting Guinness World Record for the ‘Longest straight-line fireworks display’. Children watching. Fireworks.  Interview with Abdullah Al Abdooli, Managing Director and CEO of Marjan. Interview with Phil Grucci, CEO and Creative Director, Fireworks by Grucci. Fireworks being assembled prior to New Year’s Eve.

Story: January 1st 2019: Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.

Ras Al Khaimah captivated the world with its 2019 New Year’s Eve Fireworks that welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors to the emirate. Organised by Marjan, with the support of Ras Al Khaimah’s government entities, and put together by Fireworks by Grucci, the Ras Al Khaimah New Year’s Fireworks, spanning a duration of over 13.20 minutes, also clinched two Guinness World Records for the ‘Longest chain of fireworks’ and the ‘Longest straight line of fireworks’.

Clinching the Guinness World Records for the ‘Longest chain of fireworks’, the first pyrotechnic display, the tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed, featured 11,284 firework devices. The earlier record was for deploying 10,005 firework devices set by Viejas Casino & Resort (USA) in Alpine, California, USA, on September 12, 2014. Fireworks were deployed from 52 sites along Al Marjan Island and the waterways of Ras Al Khaimah’s coastline, with the total length of the chain exceeding 4.6 kilometres. The show was set  to 12 international music compositions  and the record was set in just 40 seconds.

This was followed by a drone countdown to the New Year. A canopy of golden showers followed and Ras Al Khaimah won the Guinness World Records for the ‘Longest straight-line of fireworks’. The stunning display spanned an area of 13 kilometres, trumping the earlier record set over a distance of 11.38 kilometres.

The display had the largest calibre of aerial shells at a diameter of 600 mm, the largest used in the UAE for any fireworks display during this New Year’s Eve. The record was set in 12.06 minutes, with fireworks positioned at 13 sites across Al Marjan Island and the waterways along the RAK shoreline. There were seven themed chapters for the show, which was set to international music compositions. The inspiration for the fireworks display was the natural beauty of Ras Al Khaimah and it was choreographed to highlight the beautiful beaches and resorts along the Emirate’s shoreline.

A 200-piece SkyMagic drone show was precisely integrated into the fireworks design. Scenes such as the tribute to Sheikh Zayed were displayed within a 100m space in the sky accented by colourful bursts of fireworks. A sweeping display of a falcon spreading its wings emphasised the heritage of the Emirate.

Designed by Phil Grucci, CEO & Creative Director of Fireworks by Grucci, the event was verified by an official adjudicator from Guinness World Records for the ‘Longest chain of fireworks’ and the ‘Longest straight-line of fireworks.’ Following the fireworks gala, Abdullah Al Abdooli and Phil Grucci, received the Guinness World Records titles from the adjudicator.

Marjan worked closely with Ras Al Khaimah’s government entities, including Ras Al Khaimah Public Works, to create several public viewing areas across Al Marjan Island. More than 27,000 additional public car parking spaces were provided to welcome the guests.

Preparations for the 2019 Ras Al Khaimah New Year’s Eve Fireworks started in early 2018 immediately after the successful Guinness World Record achievement for the ‘Largest Aerial Shell’ displayed from Al Marjan Island at last year’s New Year’s Eve celebration.

Over 300 hours were spent to design the show. The design resulted in the programming of over 41,000 lines of computer instructions to control 20 computers to display the sweeping performance. The firework components for the aerial shells, ranging in size from 14 to 600 mm, were handcrafted exclusively by Grucci in their factories in New York and Virginia over a two month period.

Abdulla Al Abdooli, Managing Director & CEO of Marjan, said: “The spectacular event highlighted the reputation of Ras Al Khaimah as the must-visit destination for celebrating New Year’s Eve. With visitors arriving from across the world, the event served to highlight the touristic appeal of Ras Al Khaimah and to position it as a fast-growing leisure and commercial hub in the region”.

Shows: Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

0:00       Vision of Guinness World Record fireworks for ‘Longest chain of fireworks’

0:03        Zayed 100 Drone light display

0:07        Close up of spectators watching.

0:14        Drone light display of countdown.

0:27        Vision of Guinness World Record for ‘Longest straight-line chain of fireworks’                    

1:00        Spectators watching drone light display of falcon.

1:12        Vision of Guinness World Record for ‘Longest straight-line chain of fireworks’     

1:35       Vision of Ras Al Khaimah drone light display.

1:42       Drone light display of Jebel Jais mountain.

1:57       Vision of fireworks.

2:34       Vision of Guinness World Record certificates being presented.

3:24       Close up of certificates.

3:29       Interview Abdullah Al Abdooli, Managing Director and CEO of Marjan. "Two Guinness World Records in one night at the beginning of 2019. I can see the happiness in the face of the people. People were amazed with the wonderful show that we had today in Ras Al Khaimah".

3:45       Interview with Phil Grucci, CEO and Creative Director, Fireworks by Grucci. "The reaction of the people. You can hear the people in crowd roaring when the fireworks show was going on and seeing the longest chain, the longest straight line of fireworks. The reaction is the reward that we all have. Seeing people really enjoying themselves and Happy New Year to everyone."

04.01     Aerial of Al Marjan Island             

04:08     Vision of firework preparations

04.12     Close up of inserting fireworks into launchers

04.15     Vision of prepared fireworks

04.17     Setting up connections for fireworks

04.20     Vision of fireworks being set up on the beach

04.23     Close up of fireworks on beach

04.26     Josef J Mercante , Producer, Fireworks by Grucci. “This one, this one will go at the same time. Probably with those two over there.  In some cases they’re the same, so it’s a big fan”

04.35     Prepared fireworks

04.39     Boat approaching firework barges

04.43     Counting the loads

04.45     Vision of docked barge from the survey boat

04.48     Surveyors on the beach counting loads

04.51     Close up of surveyor boarding a barge

04.54     Surveyor ticking off the barges as they’re checked

04.57     Surveyor recording result on white board

05.03     Aerial of Al Marjan Island

05:07     END

Other: None