Transport system ready for a busy night of celebrations

Dubai and Abu Dhabi: With the city's populations expected to descend in their thousands on venues hosting New Year's Eve celebrations, the cities' transportation systems are gearing up for a busy night.

In a bid to avoid the difficulties following last year's display in Downtown Dubai, the RTA and Dubai Police have put into place a plan to ensure everyone can enjoy the show and return home safely. The RTA expects 400,000 people to enter the area on the night, said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA.

Changes have been made to the Dubai Metro in particular, which will be open all night with trains every three minutes from midnight until 5.30am. Burj Khalifa station entry and exit points will be separated and four additional gates installed.

For those driving, parking areas have been set up inside the Downtown area. Message boards will alert drivers to the availability of spaces. The area will be closed once all spaces are full.

Park-and-rides

Outside Downtown, 10,000 spaces will be available with feeder buses connecting an expected 50,000 people. Park-and-rides will be available at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai World Trade Centre, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs and Zabeel Park. An express lane will link the parking to the events via 63 articulated, double decker and standard buses. Departure services will start at 12.30am and go on until 5.30am.

Meanwhile, 4,000 taxis will be working, making an estimated 30,000 trips.

In Abu Dhabi, thousands are expected to attend the Coldplay concert taking place at a newly-constructed venue on the Corniche breakwater. Even more will attend free events next door at the Volvo Ocean Race Destination Village which opens on December 31 at 11am.

Organiser the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority is advising visitors to take advantage of free park-and-ride schemes. One is at the beach parking area on the Corniche, with a 50 seater bus shuttle service running approximately every 15 minutes to the Volvo Ocean Race's Destination Village, from 5pm-1am on January 1.

Parking at Marina Mall is on a first-come first-served basis, and there is no bus connection from the mall to the village.