Close to half a million people witnessed the New Year's Eve Gala from Burj Park, an island set on The Burj Lake opposite Burj Khalifa, and from other vantage points across Downtown Dubai. It was telecast live to over 2 billion people. The celebration also marked the first anniversary of the grand inauguration of Burj Khalifa, and enveloped Downtown Dubai. The community was a sea of humanity, as people arrived to witness the spectacle several hours in advance. The four-act show was synchronized through satellite signals to and from a control station.