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CNN Live Event/Special
Dubai Rings In 2025; New Year's Eve With Adam Devine. Aired 3- 3:30p ET
Aired December 31, 2024 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: Goodbye to '24.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Goodbye to '24.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Welcome 2025.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome 2025.
ANDERSON: Here we go. I think we've got the countdown happening now. Have we got it?
ALL: Eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, Happy New Year.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy New Year.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) ...
ANDERSON: Wonderful.
[15:05:00]
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Whoa. That is impressive. Some fireworks and a light show from the world's tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa, in Dubai. It is incredible. Laura, this is intense and we're just getting started. I do feel like some of the meds I was given may have psychoactive properties, because that is trippy.
LAURA COATES, CNN HOST: I got to tell you, first of all, I'm still stuck on the barbecue that they had available to everyone and seeing one of "The Real Housewives of Dubai." That's my fireworks out there, Boris, but my God, they had more than a hundred different countries, I think, involved in trying to plan another Guinness record. It looks incredible.
I mean, you know, first of all, that this shape of this building is after a flower that many people in the Southern United States, in South America, recognize, is a kind of red lily and the shape is supposed to emulate that in some way. But look at the way that it's shining right now. Can you imagine being right there in the scene, hearing it, feeling that vibe, getting some barbecue? I'm just saying.
Becky, this is amazing to watch.
SANCHEZ: Whoa.
COATES: It is unreal to watch it. What is it like to be there?
ANDERSON: It is an amazing atmosphere and I'm just going to show you what happened when I was working with - can you see my jacket? You see what happened to the jacket? That is ...
COATES: Oh, no.
ANDERSON: ... that is the result of ...
SANCHEZ: Barbecue, yes.
ANDERSON: ... Hattem Mattar ...
SANCHEZ: Yes.
ANDERSON: She stood too close, never stay - never stand ...
COATES: No one told you to wear white, Becky.
ANDERSON: ... too close to - I thought I was in Brazil. Yes, you never want to stand too close to the world's first Arab pitmaster. He's absolutely brilliant. We've left them all enjoying that amazing barbecue that Hattem put together.
You've known Hattem for years, haven't you?
COATES: Yes. He's known. He's very well known. His food's amazing.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
ANDERSON: Yes. Yes.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
ANDERSON: He's been brilliant. Sara ...
SANCHEZ: Yes.
ANDERSON: ... Sara Al Madani is from "Real Housewives of Dubai." Third series coming up at some point.
COATES: Yes.
ANDERSON: You'll see Sara on your screen. But you do more than that, Sara. You're a businesswoman in your own right as well. As we move into 2025 ...
SARA AL MADANI, THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF DUBAI: Yes.
ANDERSON: ... what are you hoping for most?
MADANI: I'm just hoping for more peace, more love, more oneness. Everyone's tired. There's a lot of things happening around the world. And I wish everyone healing. And the biggest advice I can give is stop trying to make people better so the world can be better. Do it to yourself. If you want the world to be better, you should be better. ANDERSON: You disconnect regularly.
MADANI: Yes.
ANDERSON: I have to say, you're huge on social.
MADANI: Yes.
ANDERSON: You do a lot of work on social. You've got millions of followers. But you disconnect on a regular basis.
MADANI: Always.
ANDERSON: My question of you is how?
MADANI: I feel like the universe and the world is not happening outside of you. It's inside of you. And if we try to control our surroundings, we lose control. So, my best power is controlling myself. So that's why I go within. And I always like to disconnect so I can gain my power back. It's a beautiful thing.
ANDERSON: So, in 2025, what's your advice to those millions of followers that you have about using social media, because it can be good ...
MADANI: Yes.
ANDERSON: It can be so bad for us, can't it?
MADANI: I know. The thing is, look, I know that a lot of people are probably facing heartbreak, divorce. I'm divorced twice. You know I'm a single mom. Some people might be going through other things. Some people might be trying to find love.
The thing is, if you want to find something, you got to be that thing. If you want the best person, you got to be the best person. You got to work on yourself. And my biggest advice is do the work. If you do the work, you become a better entrepreneur, better mom, better sister, better man, better wife, better everything, so it all starts within you.
ANDERSON: Sarah Al Madani, folks. That is it from us here in Dubai, at least for the time being. The fireworks go on in Abu Dhabi. They will be hoping to break a record 58 minutes' worth of fireworks in the desert at Al Wathba at the Sheikh Zayed Festival.
[15:10:07]
The night has only just started. Happy New Year, folks, from us here in Dubai.
SANCHEZ: I loved hearing all that advice from her, Becky.
COATES: Happy New Year.
SANCHEZ: Work on yourself, work on what's inside. COATES: Yes.
SANCHEZ: I want to work on putting some of that barbecue inside of me.
COATES: That's nice.
SANCHEZ: And I got to tell you, Becky, the only way that barbecue is good ...
ANDERSON: We do.
SANCHEZ: ... is if you make a mess of it. So excellent work, excellent work. Listen, we have plenty more still to come, not just from Becky in the Middle East, but also we are heating up in the Caribbean, in the Bahamas, because our Stephanie Elam is there with an assignment that I think everyone is envious of. Stephanie?
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Boris. You know, I had to come back and be surrounded by the beautiful Bahamian people here at Atlantis Paradise Island, where we've got the beautiful tropical blue waters here. And we are going to party like a royal tonight. Lil Jon will be there. We also have a special musical guest, but coming up later on in this hour, Adam Devine's going to be with me, the super talented, funny man. He is going to be hosting tonight. He'll be here with me to enjoy some of this Bahamian sunshine. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:15:51]
COATES: (INAUDIBLE) back, I don't hear sound. No sound (INAUDIBLE) sound.
SANCHEZ: I've got sound, Laura. Yes, I've got some sound as we figure out some technical difficulties. You're looking live right now at the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Welcome back to our New Year's Eve coverage from around the world. I want to bring back Becky Anderson from Dubai.
Becky, things there have to be feeling amazing right now, the peak of this evening of New Year's Eve there. You're already in 2025.
ANDERSON: We are already in 2025 here in Dubai, and in Abu Dhabi, and in Ras Al Khaimah and in the Emirates around the United Arab Emirates. It is an amazing atmosphere here. You've been watching those fireworks. It's always an absolutely tremendous effort on the part of the authorities here to make these fireworks sing for everybody here. The 10 million people who live in the UAE and all the visitors that are here for New Year's Eve this year.
And we couldn't leave you tonight, I felt, without sending you something from Dubai. I wanted to send you a little gift. So, my team organized that. Laura, your gift, as I understand it, has turned up.
COATES: Yes.
ANDERSON: Boris, yours, unfortunately, hasn't. Your gift got stuck in customs, as I understand it, Boris.
COATES: Do you mean these gifts?
ANDERSON: Not in France, but in Brussels, yes.
SANCHEZ: Oh, sure.
ANDERSON: So sorry, Boris.
SANCHEZ: Sure, sure.
ANDERSON: This ...
SANCHEZ: That's what I ...
ANDERSON: ... is the gift.
SANCHEZ: That's what I've been telling my loved ones.
ANDERSON: This is ...
SANCHEZ: Yes, your gift is stuck in customs in Brussels, yes, yes, sure.
COATES: Look at this.
SANCHEZ: Okay.
ANDERSON: So anyway ...
SANCHEZ: We got some chocolates, what is it?
ANDERSON: Anyway, enough of me, Boris (INAUDIBLE) ...
COATES: Wait, Becky, is this the viral Dubai chocolate? This ...
ANDERSON: It certainly is this chocolate.
COATES: ... this is the viral ...
ANDERSON: It's (INAUDIBLE) ...
COATES: I have three of - oh, wait hold on. Wow.
ANDERSON: Yes, yes, yes, now ...
COATES: First of all, they weigh about a pound each.
ANDERSON: These are ...
COATES: I'm not going to eat it. Wait, I'm going to try one of them. I'm going to try this one.
ANDERSON: (INAUDIBLE) ...
COATES: Can I eat it now, Becky? Do you mind? I mean, you know, it's New Year, I'm eating it.
ANDERSON: You can eat it now.
COATES: I feel like I'm Willy Wonka.
ANDERSON: Mine says, can't get (INAUDIBLE) of it.
COATES: Oh, my God. Look at this.
ANDERSON: Which is a play on words. That is an Arabic word.
COATES: Look at this.
ANDERSON: (INAUDIBLE) ...
COATES: Are you kidding me?
ANDERSON: How good is that?
COATES: Hold on.
ANDERSON: Go on. Go on. (INAUDIBLE) sorry, Boris.
COATES: Ah, hold on, hold on.
SANCHEZ: Boo, boo. Oh, my God.
COATES: Now, you - hold on. Oh, my God. Oh, Boris.
ANDERSON: (INAUDIBLE) ...
COATES: Oh, Boris. I'm so sorry.
SANCHEZ: I'm going to make - I'm going to have to make a stop in Brussels on the way home to pick those up.
COATES: (INAUDIBLE) ...
SANCHEZ: That looks amazing. Is that pistachio? What is that green stuff?
COATES: Do I have to share this?
SANCHEZ: Is that mint?
COATES: I'm not going to share it. It's a pistachio.
SANCHEZ: Come on, Laura.
COATES: It's a pistachio cream with something in it.
ANDERSON: It's chocolate.
COATES: Hold on. Hold on, I lost my wrapper.
ANDERSON: It's chocolate, ladies and gentlemen. COATES: Hold on, is that like a pistachio?
ANDERSON: Find it.
COATES: Wait.
ANDERSON: Wherever you can find it.
COATES: There's no calories, thank you.
ANDERSON: (INAUDIBLE) ...
COATES: Thank you. Thank you. Oh, my God. This is delicious. Hold on.
SANCHEZ: We're going to let you all enjoy your chocolate and your fun.
COATES: Boris, I'm so sorry.
ANDERSON: (INAUDIBLE) ...
COATES: (INAUDIBLE) ...
SANCHEZ: ... I'll figure out how I'm going to get my hands on - oh, I'm sure you're sorry with a mouthful of delectable chocolate.
COATES: I'm sorry.
SANCHEZ: Becky, thank you so much.
COATES: What, I can't hear you. (INAUDIBLE) sorry.
SANCHEZ: Cheers to whatever it is that you're drinking, I - oh, okay. Thank you so much, Becky Anderson ...
ANDERSON: You are more than welcome.
SANCHEZ: ... live from Dubai.
ANDERSON: Happy New Year, guys.
SANCHEZ: Laura, Happy New Year. We're going to let you enjoy that chocolate.
COATES: It's really good.
SANCHEZ: But still to come, it is one of the most iconic backdrops in the world. How do you top being in Paris on New Year's Eve? By being on a boat. Saskya Vandoorne is live for us on the Seine River. Saskya, what are you seeing?
SASKYA VANDOORNE, CNN: Exactly, Boris. I am here on a dinner cruise. Take a look at the Eiffel Tower, La Dame de fer.
[15:20:02]
Is there a better way of taking in the Eiffel Tower than on this boat that is gliding down the Seine? Now, we're going to see many other timeless icons this evening. We're going to see Le Grand Palais. We're going to see the Louvre. We're going to see lots of museums - Notre Dame. It's going to be a feast for the eyes, but also for the senses as these guests tuck into a seven-course meal. Back to you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:25:09]
COATES: Here we are in front of the London Eye. Look at this magical, magical night I get a chance to be in front of. We are following the anticipation though in places like Athens, Greece, where the clock is ticking downward to midnight and toward, numerous celebrations all around the ancient city. You've got Eleni Giokos joining us now.
Eleni, what are you seeing?
ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is absolutely incredible here in Athens, Greece. I'm at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. I want you to take a look just how many people are arriving and this is where the magic is going to happen. As you can see, the stage, around the stage, it's filling up. This is where musicians are going to do their thing.
We've got an hour and a half to go before New Year's and 2025 kicks in. Twenty-thousand people arrived to this location. It is one of the biggest parties happening in Athens right now. Of course, lots of fireworks and a lot of incredible sort of cultural elements to it.
Do you know, in Greece, we don't give gifts just on Christmas Eve. It's all about the New Year's Eve gifts and everyone's come here with incredible excitement. And let me tell you, one of the most exciting holidays for Greeks, of course, is New Year's and it's filling up really dramatically and importantly. There's going to be a DJ that is going to be playing until the early hours of the morning, until the sun comes up.
COATES: Wow.
SANCHEZ: Love that. Eleni Giokos from Athens, one of many cities ...
COATES: Incredible.
SANCHEZ: ... that we are going to be watching closely throughout the evening. There are also a lot of great ways to ring in the New Year here in Paris. And one of the most popular and unique celebrations involves a boat ride on the Seine River and that's where we find CNN's Saskya Vandoorne.
Saskya, set the scene for what this river cruise is all about, how you are planning to ring in the New Year.
VANDOORNE: Well, let me tell you, Boris, I mean, I think this is arguably the best place to spend New Year's Eve. I know you're on the Champs-Elysees, it's a beautiful avenue, but it does tend to get quite packed at this time. So, if you're looking for an amazing meal, lots of wine, then you want to head to a dinner cruise.
Now, this boat is called Ducasse sur Seine. It is named after the chef, very famous French chef called Alain Ducasse. He has 19 Michelin stars. And whilst we glide along the Seine, we are going to see some of Paris's most iconic landmarks. We just saw the Eiffel Tower. We're going to see the Grand Palais. We're going to see the Louvre and then we're going to circle back and we're going to see the Eiffel Tower at the end of this trip.
Now, whilst we do all of that, the guests here are going to be tucking into a seven-course meal. Now, I've managed to get my hands on a menu and let me take you through some of these delicious dishes. So, you've got the coquilles saint-jacques, sea scallops. This is a favorite for French families during Christmas, as well as New Year's Eve.
Then you've got foie gras, my personal favorite. And then you've got canard sauvage, wild duck. And then to finish, you've got a chocolate creation, one of Ducasse's signature desserts.
So, Boris, what else could you want? Food, the sights, good company, I just think it's going to be the best New Year's Eve ever.
SANCHEZ: That looks absolutely magical, Saskya. I do wonder where that menu was when you took me out to enjoy French cuisine and had me try all sorts of things. Pig innards sausage, for example, calf's (ph) brain. We're going to have that for you a little bit later tonight. You are going to want to see some of these traditional French dishes, so stay tuned for that. Saskya Vandoorne, thank you so much.
Listen, our nights are just getting started and I don't know about you, Laura, but we are prepared here. I've got some very warm tea just brewed. I've got an electric blanket. I'm wearing about six layers worth of clothing and I'm here with Melissa Bell, CNN's famed Paris correspondent.
Melissa, how are you preparing for what's going to be a long and cold evening.
MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is cold.
SANCHEZ: It's cold. And Boris, this is sick. We have hand warmers. We have electric blankets. There are even now a million people down there on the Champs-Elysees who have none of this and it is pretty chilly in Paris. So, we've had this extraordinary show up here. We've had the French cancan dancers. We've had Maitre Gims making his music, the DJ warming up the crowd.
But a million people down there, there are kids down there, families who've come out for tonight really braving the elements. It is a chilly, chilly night in Paris and your first, Boris, ever time in the French capital.
SANCHEZ: My first, this is incredibly exciting for me personally, but thank goodness for these blankets and these heaters.
[15:30:01] I hope we don't turn out the lights here because of how many heating appliances we have plugged in.
Melissa Bell, thank you so much. I want to send it to Laura. How are you preparing for tonight?
