Dubai celebrated the New Year Sunday with a spectacular midnight laser show at Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world.

As the clock ticked to midnight the 828-metre (2,716-foot) tower was lit up with the green, white, black and red colours of the United Arab Emirates, a portrait of UAE founder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan and "2018".

Hundreds of thousands of people watched the display amid tight security, with roads to the city centre sealed off. There were first aid stations in the area, but the festivities passed off without incident.

In previous years Dubai had organised spectacular fireworks displays to ring in the new year, but this time the authorities opted instead for a massive laser show, aiming to break a Guinness World Record.