Muscat Nights transformed the serene waters of Al Qurum Natural Park’s lake into a living canvas during its ongoing festival, presenting the highly anticipated ‘Festival of Light’. The show offered a fully immersive visual experience, blending reflections on the water with cutting-edge effects that reimagined the natural setting in a contemporary and artistic way. The lake quickly became one of the festival’s main attractions, drawing visitors from all walks of life to experience the spectacle firsthand.
The lighting displays along the lake’s edge demonstrate the festival’s commitment to delivering high-quality visual content through advanced technology. The combination of lights, water, movement and sound creates moments of wonder for visitors, elevating the festival beyond a traditional event to an interactive experience. “Standing there by the lake, it all just felt kind of unreal”, said Muhannad al Shabibi, a visitor. “The sky filled with drones, flashes of light cut through the dark, fire flared up and the fountains moved so smoothly it felt like the water had its own rhythm. I was so impressed that Muscat Nights put together such fantastic shows and incredible activities that the whole family can enjoy, really open to everyone no matter their age or background”.
The ‘Festival of Light’ incorporates a sophisticated array of advanced visual technologies. Around 140 moving lights are positioned around the lake, producing dynamic patterns that complement the show’s progression, alongside 120 laser devices that craft multi-layered light imagery. The display is further enhanced with special effects including smoke, fire and pyrotechnics, featuring 40 fire jets positioned strategically to heighten the sense of drama and motion.
The lake hosts 160 fountains of varying heights and lengths that move in harmony with the lighting and visual effects, creating intricate water displays. Three water screens, each standing at 15 metres high, showcase projected visuals using modern projection technology. At the centre of the lake, a 3D projection sculpture turns a stationary element into an interactive, moving feature, reflecting the growing ability to merge art and technology in a single, cohesive performance.
Each show runs for approximately 15 minutes, with four daily performances at 6:30 pm, 8:00 pm, 9:00 pm and 10:00 pm, allowing visitors flexibility while managing crowd density. “I watched the show twice now and in both instances I was equally awe-struck”, said Reem al Riyami, an Omani student. “The drones lighting up the sky, the fire and lightning effects; and the fountains moving perfectly with the music, it’s just breathtaking. This is what makes Muscat Nights special each year”.
Organised by Muscat Municipality, the festival aims to provide a holistic cultural and entertainment experience. The technical production was managed by Al Angham Al Dhahabiya, an Omani company specialising in stage and visual displays, employing around 30 local professionals.
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