Dubai: It was a sea of people and vehicles for several kilometres around Downtown Dubai as the UAE ushered the New Year with a pyrotechnics party unparalleled in the region.
Roads leading to Downtown were closed several hours before midnight as thousands waited for fireworks to light up the Burj Khalifa. Roads surrounding the area were also closed as people partied and camped on the roadside.
Authorities closed down the Dubai Mall metro station a few hours before midnight as the crowd got uncontrollable. Commuters were allowed to get down at Business Bay, Financial Centre or Emirates Towers stations.
Following the pyrotechnics show, although the trains stopped at the Dubai Mall station, people weren't allowed to enter the station.
"Authorities asked us to take the train from the next station," said a commuter.
On Al Khail Road and the Business Bay Crossing, traffic crawled to a stop in some areas after motorists parked their vehicles on the road to get a view of fireworks from the Burj Khalifa close to midnight.
Slow moving traffic was also reported on roads in and around the Dubai Marina and Jumeirah area where the Burj Al Arab and Atlantis enthralled crowds of people with their own fireworks display.
With inputs from Florence Pia G. Yu, News Editor-Web
