A variety of celebrations have been held in the United Arab Emirates, featuring performances and a parade of new energy vehicles, as part of "Happy Chinese New Year" activities to spread joy ahead of the upcoming Spring Festival throughout the Middle Eastern nation.

As the year 2025 will mark the first Chinese New Year following the festival's successful inscription on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Zhang Yiming, China's ambassador to the UAE, said the most important traditional festival in China has been further recognized by countries around the world, sharing insights into the symbolism of the Year of the Snake, which represents agility, wisdom and vitality in Chinese culture.

"Last year marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE. The number of Chinese tourists to the UAE continued to increase, showing the vigor and vitality of our cultural exchanges. This year we will continue to encourage more Chinese tourists to visit UAE and we also welcome more Emiratis to go and visit China, Shandong, Beijing and Shanghai, so as to continue this good momentum," he said.

On Sunday, a spectacular gala featuring artists from Shandong, located in East China, delivered a distinctive cultural Spring Festival experience to both local Emiratis and tourists on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE.

The "Happy Chinese New Year" celebrations worldwide, organized by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, have been held annually for 25 consecutive years.

This year, the "Happy Chinese New Year" event will feature nearly 500 diverse performances and exhibitions across more than 100 countries and regions worldwide.