A unique show combining drones, fireworks, and skydivers will take place in Dubai on December 13. Organizers shared with Khaleej Times that pyro drones (firework-drones) will launch over Bluewaters and The Beach, JBR, while skydivers leap from the sky to join the performance.
The show is part of the Dubai Shopping Festival’s 30th anniversary celebrations. Kaltham Al Shamsi, Assistant Manager of Events Planning at Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRA), said, “Adding to Dubai Shopping Festival’s epic 30th anniversary celebrations, the dazzling pyro drones show merges pyrotechnics with state-of-the-art drone technology for two special performances on December 13 and January 11.”
The event will feature two performances on December 13, with the first at 8:00 PM and the second at 10:00 PM, each with 150 pyro drones. The drones will work alongside skydivers performing stunts from 10,000 feet.
Marco Niedermeier, CEO and producer of AO Multimedia and Drones, explained the collaboration with Skydive Dubai: “In collaboration with Skydive Dubai, we’ve created two extraordinary shows. While the drones illuminate the sky with fireworks, the skydivers will leap from 10,000 feet, soaring above and in front of the drones in an exhilarating display. Equipped with additional lights and pyrotechnics on their suits, they will perform a mesmerising ‘dance’ in the air. These elite skydivers are among the most experienced in the world, manually controlling their pyrotechnics while executing breathtaking stunts.”
AO Drones, based in Dubai, operates a fleet of 6,000 drones. Niedermeier and his team have also created shows such as the New Year’s Eve event at the Burj Khalifa and the Chinese dragon flight around Burj Al Arab. “The DSF Drones Show has been choreographed by AO under the direction of the German art director Jan Ising, who is also based in Dubai, and a multimedia team of 3D animation specialists,” he added.
The drones can perform in winds of up to 8m/s. Each drone is powered by four advanced micro-engines and equipped with innovative software, enabling light effects and 3D animations. A unique feature of the drones is their ability to carry firework effects, integrated with LED lights to create a visually stunning experience. “This technological precision makes the shows truly one of a kind,” Niedermeier noted.
Al Shamsi explained the show’s theme: “The show takes viewers on a journey through three decades of unforgettable moments, iconic milestones, and the festival’s transformative impact on Dubai’s cultural and entertainment landscape.”
In addition to the special performances on December 13, regular DSF drone shows will continue daily through January 12, with two shows each evening at 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM. These shows are designed to offer “cutting-edge technology, sensory immersion, and innovative storytelling that redefines live entertainment,” according to Al Shamsi.
The regular shows will feature over 1,000 drones, with more than 4,000 propellers combined, choreographed and controlled by specialized technology software to deliver a seamless visual experience in the skies above Dubai.
