A pink arch at the end of the Palm
Atlantis, The Palm is hard to miss. It is the coral-coloured resort with the giant central arch, sitting where the Palm Jumeirah trunk meets its outer crescent. On December 31, 2026, Katy Perry gives a New Year’s Eve show there, and Dubai’s countdown falls at midnight Gulf Standard Time (GMT+4).
The resort faces open water toward the Arabian Gulf. That is why the Palm is one of the city’s main New Year’s Eve fireworks sites, along with Downtown’s Burj Khalifa. A Katy Perry set on the night of the countdown makes “Firework” the song most of the crowd expects to hear.
Getting onto Palm Jumeirah on 31 December
There is one road onto the Palm and every guest uses it. On New Year’s Eve the trunk and the tunnel under the crescent fill up hours before midnight. Most attendees use one of these:
- Palm Monorail: runs from Gateway station to Atlantis Aquaventure station at the resort. It needs its own ticket because the Nol card does not cover it.
- Metro and tram: take the Red Line to DMCC or Sobha Realty, change to the Dubai Tram and get off at Palm Jumeirah, which links to Gateway.
- Taxi or ride-hail: RTA taxis, Careem and Uber all run to the resort’s forecourt. Getting back after midnight is the slow part.
Many guests stay at Atlantis or at a hotel on the crescent so they never have to drive off the Palm in the post-fireworks rush. January 1 is a public holiday in the UAE, so a late night costs nobody a workday.
Tickets and the shape of the night
Atlantis, The Palm handles the show and sells its New Year’s Eve access through its own channels. Prices are not given here. The resort’s official site and booking pages carry the current tiers and what each one includes.
Resort New Year’s events in Dubai are usually built as a whole evening. That tends to mean a gala dinner or a drinks package, then the headline performance, then midnight fireworks. The performance times and the dress code come with the ticket, not in this guide.
December evenings on the Palm are mild and get breezy near the water, so a light layer helps outdoors.
How a Dubai New Year’s Eve works
The UAE has its own rules, and they matter more on a big night. Alcohol is served only in licensed venues such as hotel event spaces. Being visibly drunk in public, including in taxis and on the monorail, can lead to a fine or arrest. Guests who have been drinking go home by taxi, because the UAE has zero tolerance for drink-driving.
- Paying: cards and Apple Pay work almost everywhere at the resort. Tips of around 10% are common, though restaurants often add a service charge already.
- Dress: evening wear is normal inside the resort. In the metro, malls and taxis, people usually cover their shoulders and knees.
- Photos: filming the stage is common. Filming other guests up close without asking breaks UAE privacy law.
- Leaving: at midnight everyone heads for the trunk road at the same moment. Guests going to the monorail usually walk straight there after the fireworks, before the forecourt taxi queue forms.
Attendees usually carry their passport or Emirates ID, since licensed venues check age at the door.
Frequently asked questions
When and where is Katy Perry's New Year's Eve show in Dubai?
It takes place on Thursday, December 31, 2026, at Atlantis, The Palm, at the tip of Palm Jumeirah. Midnight is in Gulf Standard Time (GMT+4).
How do I get to Atlantis, The Palm on New Year's Eve?
Take the Palm Monorail from Gateway station to Atlantis Aquaventure station. Gateway connects to the Dubai Tram's Palm Jumeirah stop, and the tram meets the Metro Red Line at DMCC and Sobha Realty. Taxis and ride-hail also go to the resort, but the single road onto the Palm is very congested that night.
Where are tickets sold?
Atlantis, The Palm handles access to its New Year's Eve event through its own channels. The resort's official site has the ticket tiers and package details.
Is there a fireworks display as well?
Palm Jumeirah, with Atlantis at its centre, is one of Dubai's main New Year's Eve fireworks sites. The midnight show sits right in front of the resort.
What should I know about alcohol and behaviour?
Drinking is legal only in licensed venues such as the resort. Public drunkenness can lead to fines or arrest, and the UAE has zero tolerance for drink-driving. Guests usually carry a passport or Emirates ID for age checks.
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