http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2231223/Celebrating-golden-jubilee-Kuwait-style-Gulf-state-spends-10million-biggest-firework-display-time.html (Pictures, story, & 2 excellent videos) Celebrating a golden jubilee Kuwait style: Gulf state spends £10million to put on the biggest firework display of all time By Phil Vinter PUBLISHED: 21:12 EST, 10 November 2012 UPDATED: 03:09 EST, 12 November 2012 9 November, 2012 For the paltry sum of just £10 million British pounds (4,568,453.50 Kuwaiti dinars / 12,510,000 Euros / $15,700,000 U.S.dollars), Kuwait earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records 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. 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. Photo: article-0-15F5D73D000005DC-671_968x436.jpg Exploding fireworks illuminate the sky over Kuwait City, Kuwait, last night, during celebrations on the occasion of the 50th Constitution Day jubilee Photo: article-0-15F5D756000005DC-791_968x470.jpg The firework show which lasted for an hour was the largest of its kinds in the world and cost a reported £10million Photo: article-0-15F5D6CD000005DC-280_968x630.jpg 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 Photos: article-0-15F5D7C8000005DC-998_472x697.jpg article-0-15F5D7B6000005DC-794_472x699.jpg A representative of Guinness World Records announced that the display was the biggest of all time 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 In the past 50 years parliament has been dissolved on nine occasions, while some articles of the constitution itself were frozen twice to suspend parliament for a total of 11 years in the 1970s and 1980s. Last night's celebration came as the government and opposition are locked in one of the worst standoffs in the country's history, with the opposition accusing the government of staging a coup against the constitution. More than 150 people and 24 policemen suffered minor injuries during three massive demonstrations held by the opposition to protest against the amendment of the electoral law ordered by the emir last month. The opposition claims the amendment is in breach of the constitution and allows the government to influence the outcome of parliamentary polls due on December 1. It insists that the emir must repeal the amendment. The opposition is marking the constitution anniversary with a huge rally in Kuwait City on Sunday. Photo: article-2231223-15F5D614000005DC-549_968x645.jpg 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 Photo: article-2231223-15F5DAEA000005DC-251_968x642.jpg Thousands of people gather to watch fireworks and dramatic laser display which lights the sky near the Kuwait Towers Photo: article-2231223-15F5CFDF000005DC-44_968x627.jpg Revelers wave Kuwaiti flags in the foreground as the fireworks burst above the Persian Gulf Photo: article-2231223-15F5CD16000005DC-372_968x643.jpg Locals flocked to the beach to witness the incredible display, many recording it on their mobile phones Photo: article-2231223-15F5CB3D000005DC-102_968x630.jpg A youngsters climbs on a broad pair of shoulders to get a better view of the spectacular display Photo: article-2231223-15F5C8D1000005DC-997_968x637.jpg Last night's celebration came as the government and opposition are locked in one of the worst standoffs in the country's history, with the opposition accusing the government of staging a coup against the constitution Photo: article-2231223-15F5C8C5000005DC-235_968x664.jpg This dramatic image captures the moment some of the thousands of fireworks gave the night sky an orange hue Photo: article-2231223-15F5C742000005DC-658_968x527.jpg Before the festivities Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah pledged the government's continuing commitment to democracy Photo: article-2231223-15F5851C000005DC-386_968x358.jpg Bright white fireworks light up the high rise buildings in the capital of the oil-rich state Photo: article-2231223-15F58469000005DC-378_968x314.jpg Purple and red fireworks light up the skyline above Kuwait ================= http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/189844/reftab/36/t/Kuwait-Constitution-Golden-Jubilee-celebrations-start/Default.aspx Arab Times web site (entire 1 hour long video) ================ http://www.amusingplanet.com/2012/11/kuwaits-golden-jubilee-fireworks-enters.html ==================== http://www.da.gov.kw/eng/festival/anniversary_50th_independence_kuwait.php History of the constitution, bio of the Sheikh. ==================== http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2012/11/video-watch-the-worlds-largest-ever-firework-display-take-place-in-kuwait-45834/ Guinness Web page entry.