New Year 2014
Fireworks explode past the Times Square Ball after it dropped to signal the start of the new year in Times Square, Midtown, New York [Reuters]

The year 2014 was welcomed with extravagant fireworks from across the world, starting from Auckland, New Zealand.

New Zealand was the first country to say goodbye to 2013. The New Year began with fireworks exploding from Auckland's Sky Tower.

Two hours later Sydney, Australia, welcomed the New Year. As the clock struck 12, fireworks lit up the sky from Sydney's opera house and Harbour Bridge. To watch the pyrotechnics display, more than one million people gathered at the harbour foreshore. The fireworks were also broadcasted live on YouTube.

New Year 2014
Fireworks explode over Sydney Harbour at midnight, ushering in the new year, in Sydney [Reuters]

Dubai created a world record this year for the biggest fireworks display, near Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. The New Year show produced around 400,000 pyrotechnics which were launched from over 400 points of the Dubai shoreline, making its entry into the Guinness World Records, CNN reported.

The Guinness World Records team announced that it was the largest ever pyrotechnics display.

New Year 2014
Fireworks explode from Taiwan's tallest skyscraper, the Taipei 101 during New Year celebrations in Taipei [Reuters]

In London, thousands of people gathered on the banks of the River Thames to witness the spectacular fireworks. Edible banana confetti and strawberry mist fell on revellers at midnight during the show.

Millions assembled near Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour to watch the fireworks display at midnight.

In New York, the famous ball dropped at the Times Square as midnight struck. Millions of people from across the world were in attendance to watch the 60-second ball drop.

Check out the videos and photos below:

Midnight fireworks in London, UK

Midnight fireworks in Sydney, Australia

Midnight fireworks at Burj Khalifa, Dubai

New Year 2014
Fireworks explode in the sky across the whole of The Palm Jumeirah and the The World Islands during an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the 'Largest Firework Display' in Dubai
New Year 2014
Fireworks explode in the sky during New Year celebrations in Moscow's Red Square
New Year 2014
Fireworks explode across a London skyline near the London Eye during New Year celebrations in London
New Year 2014
Fireworks explode across a London skyline near the London Eye during New Year celebrations in London
New Year 2014
Fireworks explode in the sky over Pyongyang as part of New Year celebrations in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency
New Year 2014
Fireworks explode around the London Eye wheel during New Year celebrations in central London