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Dubai announces New Year’s Eve road closures, metro timings

The events committee said a total of 11,972 personnel and 1,525 patrols and civil defence and ambulance vehicles will be deployed around the city

by Gulf Business

December 28, 2023

Dubai unveils comprehensive New Year’s Eve safety plan

Image courtesy: STR/AFP via Getty Images

Dubai’s events security committee has unveiled a comprehensive traffic management plan for New Year’s Eve festivities, with thousands of officers deployed and a series of road closures around Downtown Dubai hours before the clock strikes midnight.

Dubai Police said key routes in Downtown Dubai, including Al Asayel Street, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Burj Khalifa Street and The Financial Centre Street (Lower Deck), will be sealed off from 4:00 pm as the area is set to receive thousands of people attending the annual Burj Khalifa fireworks display.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station will be closed at 5:00 pm or earlier if capacity is exceeded while urging commuters to maintain a minimum balance of Dhs15 in their nol cards.

RTA said the rest of the Metro’s Green and Red line network will operate continuously from 8:00 am on Sunday until 12:00 am on January 1, 2024, to help commuters travel during one of the city’s busiest periods of the year.

Similarly, the authority said Dubai Tram will be in service for the same duration from 9:00 am on New Year’s Eve. For alternative free parking, motorists can park at Al Wasl Club and Al Jafiliya Public Parking, and as many as 20,000 parking spaces are available in Emaar District.

The events committee include Dubai Police, RTA, Emaar Properties and Dubai Corporation For Ambulance Services.

Dubai’s comprehensive New Year’s Eve plan

The events committee said a total of 11,972 personnel and 1,525 patrols and civil defence and ambulance vehicles will be deployed around the city to ensure safety.

Fireworks displays will take place in 32 locations across the emirate, including Burj Khalifa, The Beach, Bluewaters (JBR), Palm Jumeirah and Kite Beach. The civil defence will deploy more than 947 firefighters across celebration sites and over 106 modern multi-purpose vehicles and logistical support teams.

The committee said a total of 178 ambulances, four boats, 556 paramedics, and 35 supervisors will be on standby for 46 events across the city.

Meanwhile, Sharjah – the UAE’s third-largest emirate – banned New Year’s Eve fireworks this year as an expression of solidarity with the people of Gaza. The decision was announced in a Facebook post by Sharjah Police, warning that legal measures would be taken against those found violating the ban.

The authorities said the ban is “a sincere expression of solidarity and humanitarian cooperation with our siblings in the Gaza Strip.”