Elaborate security plan for New Year festivities in Dubai

Dubai: Around two million people are expected to attend New Year celebrations in Dubai, Dubai Police said on Monday while announcing their plans for the festivities.

Dubai Police Chief Maj Gen Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina approved the Event Security Committee’s New Year’s security and traffic arrangements to ensure scheduled events at the iconic Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) go ahead smoothly.

There will be separate pedestrian paths from three Metro stations — Burj Khalifa, Financial Centre and Business Bay — leading to the areas where festivities will be held near Dubai Mall; one of the paths will be for bachelors, another for families and a third for people who have bookings in Dubai Mall and the areas around it.

People who have a booking in restaurants will be allowed in on showing the pass they were given by the outlet they made a booking at.

Burj Khalifa Metro station: There will be a path for families and people with bookings from the station. The path will be 850 metres long.

Financial Centre Metro station: The path for bachelors from the station will be 1,550 metres long.

Business Bay Metro station: Two paths will originate from the station, one for bachelors, which will be 2,150m long and one for families and people with bookings, which will be 1,500 metres long.

Maj Gen Al Mazeina said there are designated areas where the public can view the fireworks around the Burj Khalifa. These are:

1) Dubai Mall Waterfront

2) Burj Park

3) Souk Al Bahar

4) Burj Plaza

5) South Bridge Buildings

6) The Boulevard

7) Business Bay area.

Other fireworks displays: Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) and Palm Island.

Burj Khalifa: 12 midnight

Burj Al Arab: 12.09am

Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR): 12.16am

16 sites to assist public

There will be 16 sites in the area that will provide medical emergency services, allow for reporting lost items, provide logistics support, attend to lost children and care for them until they are returned to their parents, besides providing directions to the public.
 

Call 999 or go to the nearest police stations.

Non-emergencies

Call 901 for non-emergency complaints or concerns

Maj Gen Al Mazeina, said the committee’s plan was to ensure the smooth and safe movement of people around locations where festivities are planned, and for them to fully enjoy the shows. He asked the public to cooperate with the police and abide by traffic instructions in order to avoid traffic congestion.
 

Police will be closing some streets that lead to Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa.

Al Saada Road and the road from Murooj Rotana leading to Burj Khalifa area will be closed from 6pm on December 31.

Zabeel intersection in the same street and roundabout leading to Emirates Towers from Al Saada Road will be closed by 8pm and 10pm respectively.

Al Asayel Street: To be closed to traffic by 4pm and will be used as a path for public transport and VIPs.

The Boulevard: To be closed sometime between 6-8pm, depending on traffic situation.

The Burj Khalifa Metro station: To be closed from 10pm to 6am.

People can also use the Event Security Committee’s smartphone app — available in Arabic and English — to know more about the event’s arrangements, parking areas, paths and more.

The events Security Committee has provided extra parking areas near Meydan that can accommodate 8,000 cars, in addition to parking areas near the Word Trade Centre, Zabeel park, Al Jafiliya Eid prayer grounds.

There will be free shuttle buses round the clock to and from those parking spots.

Events Security Committee was created by Dubai Police in 2008, and includes members from various Dubai Government Departments that take part in securing events, such as Dubai Police the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Ambulances, the Civil Defence and Dubai Health Authority, to name a few. The Crown Prince’s Office is also part of the committee.

Maj Gen Al Mazeina said people can communicate with the committee through various social media channels using #MydubaiNewyear, as well as the Dubai Media Office, RTA, Dubai Police, Emaar and Dubai Tourism.