Dubai has seen in 2014 in unforgettable style, with a successful attempt at the world record for the largest ever fireworks display.

The history-making performance saw 479,651 shells fired in just six minutes on New Year's Eve, at a rate of almost 80K shells per minute and 1,332 fireworks per second.

Within the first minute, Dubai fired enough shells to break the previous Guinness World Records title record held by Kuwait with an hour-long show of 77,282 fireworks, achieved in November 2011, during the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the country’s constitution.

Guinness World Records Adjudicators completed a rigorous verification process, which included a physical count of all the fireworks before and after the performance, and have now confirmed the total quantity fired and , officially verified the extraordinary record-breaking achievement.

Thousands of people, who watched the spectacle from various locations, were left mesmerized by the dizzying array of colours.

Commenting on the new record, Talal Omar, Guinness World Records Adjudicator said:" “This is an iconic record title that which has been challenged and broken on a phenomenal scale by Dubai. I am pleased to confirm that Dubai has achieved a new Guinness World Records title for the Largest fireworks display.”

The display, which was been designed by Phil Grucci and produced by his New York company Fireworks by Grucci, was launched from stations mounted across all Seven Continents of The World Islands and its surrounding breakwater, and also across the entire Palm Jumeirah, occupying 95km of seafront.

The performance took ten months to plan and more than 5,000 man hours to install.

Speaking after the event, Grucci said “It is a great honour to have set this Guinness World Records world record title and it’s well deserved for the people of Dubai. Safety is always of paramount concern and we’re proud and very satisfied to have achieved this accomplishment.”

The event, organised by Dubai, marked the end of an memorable year for the city, which was awarded World Expo 2020 and also celebrated the UAE’s 42nd National Day.

Watch the display in full below:

