Burj Khalifa area expected to welcome over 650,000 New Year revellers

Officials are preparing for the arrival of 650,000 people at the area surrounding Dubai’s Burj Khalifa to witness the keenly anticipated New Year fireworks display.

The world’s tallest tower has been the focal point for Dubai’s New Year celebrations in recent years, and this year will be no different, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to fill Downtown.

Director of Dubai Police’s protective security and emergency department Brigadier Abdullah Al Marri said that the Dubai Mall area is expected to bring in 400,000 people, while the Burj Khalifa area could welcome 200,000 people, plus 27,000 near the Address Hotel, 13,000 in Souk Al Bahar, 10,000 along the promenade, and 1,800 in the Burj Plaza area.

As a safety measure, he said: “We urge people to get to the celebrations early and before 8pm, to follow the officers’ instructions, and avoid hindering traffic flow.”

A number of announcements have already been made regarding the closure of roads, parking, diversions and the role of public transport on New Year’s eve, especially around Downtown Dubai.

Read Dubai’s RTA reveals road closures, traffic diversions for New Year’s eve

Brig Al Marri also said that paths will be open for pedestrians to go from three metro stations to the viewing areas.

Two will lead from the Burj Khalifa metro station itself – one for families that leads to the promenade and the area behind Burj View, and one for bachelors that will go towards South Ridge. Another path will be from Financial Centre metro station, and the third will be from Khaleej Al Tejari metro station.