RTA has announced its readiness for New Year’s Eve through a traffic plan mapped out by Dubai Police in conjunction with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to ease mobility and traffic on December 31, as tourists and residents travel across the city to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Preparations have been set on a smart plan mapped out by Dubai Police in conjunction with the RTA which will use 10 thousand cameras to smart monitor the roads by the Enterprise Command and Control Centre of the RTA.
“The committee is fully prepared to secure the New Year’s celebrations. It held several coordinative meetings with representatives of all concerned bodies during which a joint and unified security plan was developed covering various fields to secure tourist areas and commercial centres and ease traffic during the Eve of the New Year 2023,” said Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, Acting Assistant Commandant for Operations Affairs at Dubai Police and Acting Chairman of the Executive Committee for Securing International and Local Events.
It has been confirmed that the committee would deploy all necessary resources to ensure smooth mobility for all those commuting to and from celebration locations.
“Several supply tents will be erected in the Dubai Downtown area to provide several services, including Lost & Found, First Aid, and Logistical Support, as well as dedicated tents to receive and aid lost children and assist in guiding visitors,” explained Major General Al Mazrouei.
The public is urged to cooperate with police and traffic instructions to avoid congestion and alerted to call emergency number 999 and non-emergency number 901 or approach officers on site when required.
Three routes are dedicated for the public intending to access the Downtown Burj Khalifa area using Dubai metro:
- The first route is from the Burj Khalifa station, divided into two paths, one for families and heads to the Island Park and the area behind the Tower View, the other is dedicated to other groups and leads to the South Ridge.
- The second route is from the Financial Centre station with a path dedicated to families heading to the Boulevard area; the second path is for other groups and leads to the South Edge area.
- The third route is for the public arriving from the Business Bay station.
The plan developed includes separated paths, after show exit routes and emergency fire exits.
“Burj Khalifa station and the metro link, which connects to the Dubai Mall, will be closed at 5 PM or when the numbers exceed the capacity of the station. Meanwhile, specific routes have been determined for shoppers and spectators inside the Dubai Mall,” he explained.
Traffic Management
Teams from RTA, Dubai Police, Civil Defense and the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services will be deployed on the Enterprise Command and Control Centre on New Year’s Eve to ease mobility traffic and visitors during various hotspots in Dubai, with special focus on the Downtown Burj Khalifa area, said Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of Public Transport Agency and Deputy Chairman of the Transportation Systems Management Committee during Events.
He noted that the plan included five key pillars relying on RTA’s mass transit services as well as other services in coordination with the police, Emaar and stakeholders.
Road closure and timings
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard will be closed at 4 PM, upon reaching capacity in the parking area.
“We encourage those holding reservations in the Boulevard area or at Dubai Mall to arrive before 04:00 pm on Saturday,” explained Bahrozyan.
The Lower Deck of the Financial Centre Road will be closed at 4 PM and Al Sukook Street will be closed at 8 PM.
A closure of Al Asayel Road, extending from Oud Metha Road and leading to Burj Khalifa district, is scheduled at 4 PM for the exclusive use of public buses and emergency vehicles.
During the event, Al Mustaqbal Street will gradually shut down between 2nd Za’abeel Road and Al Meydan Road starting at 4 PM.
“These closures will be made through RTA’s operational teams at the site in all locations and will be fitted with the required logistics for closure operations in collaboration with the Dubai Police. Metro riders may please note that Burj Khalifa Station will be closed from 5PM.” said Bahrozyan.
Metro and tram services
Red and green lines of the Dubai Metro will operate for 43 hours starting from 5AM on Saturday, December 31. The metro will continue to operate continuously until 12AM on Monday January 2, 2023.
The tram will operate from 6AM on Saturday, December 31 until 1AM on Monday January 2, 2023.
Additional parking lots
The public will have access to around 1500 parking spaces outside the event area where a commuter bus service will be available to an from the event area, operating from 3PM.
A total of 1000 parking spaces will be available at Al Wasl Club and 500 will be allocated at Al Jafiliya’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.
Public transport services
210 buses will be deployed to for visitors to the closest stations and parkin lots.
On the following routes, the bus service will be free of charge for commuters on designated routes. Buses will be deployed in the following areas:
- Sheikh Zayed Road in the direction of the Financial Centre to lift the public from Burj Khalifa Metro station to Al Wasl Club, MAX Fashion Metro Station, and Deira City Centre.
- Sheikh Zayed Road heading to Abu Dhabi to lift riders from Burj Khalifa Metro station to Al Safa Metro Station.
- Financial Centre Road to the parking area of Al Wasl Club, Deira City Centre and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.
- Burj Khalifa Street heading to Deira City Centre Metro Station.
- Business Bay Metro Station along Sheikh Zayed Road to Deira City Centre Metro Station.
Taxi Services
“Parking lots for taxis have been designated at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs and Al Wasl Club, where the public can be transported from the event site by buses during departure and after the evacuation of the site,” said Bahrozyan.
Directional Signage and Intelligent Traffic Systems
Directional signs will be installed by RTA within Burj Khalifa District to ease movement of pedestrians to and from the venue of the event.
“The light signals on the Financial Centre Road and the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard will be monitored during various peak times in coordination with Emaar Control Room to streamline the traffic flow. The Virtual Messaging Signs will be used to alert road users when closures are made and direct them to the alternative parking areas provided,” said Bahrozyan.
Pedestrian bridges on the Dubai Water Canal will be closed, as well as the associated lifts. The pedestrian walkway on the Sheikh Zayed Road above the Water Canal will also be closed to ensure safety of the public.
Civil Defence
“In the context of our cooperation and cementing our cooperative links, we conducted numerous drills with our key partners. Potential threats were also analysed based on the nature of the location, and emergency plans for all structures and facilities were received,” said BRIG Expert Ali Hassan Al Mutawa, Assistant Director -General of Dubai Civil Defence for Fire and Rescue Affairs, confirming he readiness of the Civil Defence during the events of New Year’s Eve.
“The Dubai Civil Defence carried out several evacuation drills with a host of strategic partners at the sites of events to ensure the safety, protection, and happiness of the public in a safe environment. The Dubai Civil Defence teams carried out inspections of buildings and facilities in which events will be held to ensure that they fulfil the requirements of prevention, safety and fire protection systems. Most notably the teams inspected the Burj Khalifa and adjacent 68 buildings to ensure a ready safe environment for receiving celebrators. The staff were trained to deal with all potential risks in a fully professional manner,” he added.
Ambulance
“We are working with our strategic partners in the International and Local Events Insurance Committee, to secure the New Year’s activities according to sectors divided under a proactive plans, and professional ambulance personnel as well as advanced and diverse ambulance units to ensure the arrival in a record time to cope with all cases,” said Mishaal Abdul Karim Julfar, Executive Director of the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services.
1200 staff was allocated this year and 287 vehicles deployed over 30 activities in four sectors. Technical equipment include ambulances, rapid responders, bicycles, boats, air ambulances in cooperation with the Dubai Police Air Wing Centre, and the supply vehicles for field support.
“Through its quality services, the Corporation is keen to raise the readiness of ambulances such they become equipped to tackle the most difficult cases,” explained Julfar.
RTA, Dubai Police and Emaar will run a joint service for responding to inquiries about the details of the proposed plan via social media channels. The public can also make inquiries through RTA’s toll-free number (800-9090).
The public is urged to be more patient, observe the guidance of RTA and Police personnel, and use alternative roads as shown in the directional signs.
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