Kuwait: Gulf state spends £10million to put on the biggest firework display of all time

By Vinod Lewis
Bellevision Media Network

Kuwait, 13 November 2012: For the paltry sum of just £10million Kuwait earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records last night as it celebrated the golden jubilee anniversary of its constitution in style by laying on  the biggest fireworks display of all time.
A dazzling array of colours illuminated the skies above the country’s capital of Kuwait City as a staggering 77,282 fireworks were launched over the period of an hour.

Carim Valerio a representative of Guinness World Records announced the achievement on Kuwait television at the end of the display which had been watched by tens of thousands of Kuwaitis and expatriates on the Arabian Gulf Road by the sea. The visual presentation marked 50 years to the day since the late emir Sheikh Abdullah al-Salem al-Sabah announced that Kuwait had become the first Arab state in the Gulf to issue a constitution and have a parliament. Before the festivities Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah pledged the government’s continuing commitment to democracy and made a plea for national unity as the wealthy Gulf state struggles with a political crisis.

 

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al Jaber Al-Sabah addressed the citizens of Kuwait on Saturday on the 50th anniversary of promulgation of Kuwait Constitution, calling for national unity, maintaining and appreciating democracy, national resources, renouncing sedition and respecting the judicial system.

 

HH the Amir said “ for the sake of a better future so the homeland may be bestowed with further prosperity and higher international status, so the citizens may be bestowed with greater political freedoms, equality and social justice, so the trait of the Arab sprit as to individual dignity and out of keenness on the welfare of the society and era of ruling with the view of safe guarding the unity and stability of the homeland”.

 

 

The celebration which took place on one of the biggest stages – the sea, had several thousands gather at Kuwait’s Gulf Corniche. Giant balloons paraded through the street, aerobatic planes soared through the sky and elegant kites glided the sea flown by jet-skis in the afternoon. But the main event, a firework display with lasers, lights synchronized to music started after dark.

 

The display was choreographed to original music and focused on five chapters, pride, heritage, freedom, constitution and prosperity each chapter containing its own unique show elements.

 

The event started with the heritage of Kuwait, referencing the pearl divers and people from the desert then  moved on to the pride of Kuwait with the red display and flames to highlight the sentiment. Then comes freedom, which Kuwait has regained, the chapter of the constitution is a bit more serious to highlight its value and importance. From there, at prosperity and the future which is represented by a glorious golden sky,”

 

Light cubes 20 meters above sea level dominated the ocean with flames, lights and laser effects, while the show saw the return of the balloon parade through the Gulf Road, the aerobatic show, and the jet-ski kites with added pyro effects.

 

The audience had access to watch the show from all areas via huge sail screens spread throughout the beach,   along the Gulf Road or alternatively live from home on Kuwait TV.

 

The mega event is the sum of the efforts of over 200 crew members who built all the structures on the sea; providing lighting, sound and projections for the audience. The show’s design took three to four weeks of preparation and the last two days were reserved for fine-tuning, many of the products used were made exclusively for the show.