Grucci fireworks in Dubai win Guinness record

Guinness World Records Friday certified that Long Island's Fireworks by Grucci had indeed launched the largest-ever pyrotechnic display with its kaleidoscope of 479,000-plus explosions over the city of Dubai for the New Year's celebration.

The Bellport company spent 10 months planning the 6- minute show, which stretched for 60 miles along the Persian Gulf. More than 200 pyrotechnicians traveled from Long Island, Connecticut and elsewhere to fire the rockets over the oil-rich city, which is in the United Arab Emirates.

"It was phenomenal," said Grucci chief executive Phil Grucci, who supervised the display from the 112th floor of Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the tallest building on Earth.

Grucci's show shattered the previous record of 77,000 fireworks set in 2012 by an Italian company to mark the country of Kuwait's 50th anniversary.

The Long Island company traces its local roots to 1870, when Phil Grucci's ancestors brought the family's skyrocket expertise from Italy to Elmont.

Grucci has become one of the biggest names in pyrotechnics, coordinating displays at presidential inaugurations, Olympic opening ceremonies and the 250 anniversary of the Guinness brewery in Dublin.

The company employs about 25 people in Brookhaven, roughly 160 in Virginia and hundreds of part-time pyrotechnicians who help stage the shows.

To prepare for the New Year's Eve display, Phil Grucci and his family arrived in Dubai before Thanksgiving.

"We are looking forward to getting back to Long Island," he said, "so we can see the snow."