Secret camp, fireworks tent: Dubai creator reveals how Burj Khalifa preps for NYE show

An annual event for UAE residents and millions of visitors to the country, the New Year's Eve fireworks at Burj Khalifa is a phenomenon one cannot get enough of, no matter how many times it lights up the skies.

The country begins gearing up for the show well in advance, with roads closing on the day to manage large crowds, along with extended metro hours, closures of certain metro stations and free public shuttle buses.

As hotels and restaurants declare their jaw-dropping packages for the special night, residents begin planning in advance, looking for the best spots to get a view of the magnificent display which marks the start of the new year.

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But the preparation that is invisible to most, is the one that goes on within the tallest building of the world, as countless hours are spent to make those few minutes the most memorable.

Arab influencer Omar Farooq took his 5.7 million followers on a trip behind the scenes, between pathways and rooms that nobody enters, where the hardwork of individuals combined with stunning technicalities showed a glimpse of how the fireworks come to life on the last day of the year.

A site from the video shows dance rehearsals taking place for parades and shows set to take place on the grand night. Among the humans, a falcon flies from one tree to another, preparing for its own show, adding a traditional touch to the futuristic grand finale.

From swimmers in the dancing fountains to people walking on a rope from Dubai Mall to Burj Khalifa and the fire that will launch the count-down; snippets of the grand night left netizens in awe.

"There is no competitor to the Burj Khalifa,' commented one user.

The main star of the event, though, remains hidden, tucked far away from the city in a camp — the fireworks tent.

The location, unknown to the general public, includes a control room, training camps and 20,000 fireworks locked away safely, while they are used for testing.

And amidst it all, lies the machinery, that sets the fireworks off with the click of a button, amazing the world for a few minutes.

This year, personnel from Emaar revealed there will be use of special lights, saying they "need to improve every year". The fireworks will be accompanied by synchronised light and laser shows, Dubai Fountain performances, and giant LED screens across Downtown.

"It is hard to be the best," he added, as Farooq came out of the experience drenched in water after venturing "above the clouds, under the storm" at the the foot of the world's tallest building.