Dubai: Dubai is all set to usher in the New Year, while ensuring strict adherence to discipline and health protocols in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dubai Police, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Civil Defence, Dubai Ambulance and Emaar have drawn up a comprehensive plan for managing movement of vehicles and public buses in the vicinity of Burj Khalifa and other 23 locations across Dubai on New Year’s Eve.
The Red Line of Dubai Metro will be in operation from 5am on Thursday, December 31, to 1am on Saturday, January 2. The Green Line will start its service at 5.30am on Thursday, December 31, to iam on Saturday, January 2.
Lt General Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri, Commander-In-Chief at Dubai Police, said that all policemen are ready to ensure security and safety at all tourist destinations in the emirate and will make sure to implement the precautionary measures in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of RTA, said that a comprehensive plan for the entire public transport system, especially around Burj Khalifa, will be put in place by the unified control centre at RTA and at the Dubai Intelligent Traffic Systems Centre in Al Barsha. “The centre will enhance the efficiency of traffic movements and quick response to accidents. The RTA plan will focus on the public transport system as well as implement precautionary measures such as maintaining social distancing and wearing of masks,” Al Tayer said in a statement.
Traffic management
Maitha bin Adai, CEO of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency, said that the traffic movement plan will include five phases:
The Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard and Al Asayl street from Oud Maitha to Al Meydan street will be closed from 4pm and will be used by public transportation and emergency vehicles. In this regard, Bin Adai urged spectators who have reservations in the Boulevard area or in and around Dubai Mall to reach the respective venues before 4pm.
The Financial Centre Street will be closed starting from 4pm, while Al Sukuk Street will be closed starting from 8pm.
Al Mustakbal Street will be closed (between First Business Bay street and Trade Centre) gradually between 6pm and 8pm until the end of the celebrations.
She also noted that the Burj Khalifa Metro Station will be closed from 5pm to 6am, while designated pedestrian crossing lanes will be provided on Shaikh Zayed Road near Burj Khalifa Metro Station, under the supervision of police and operational team from the RTA, to allow people to cross Shaikh Zayed Road safely and to avoid accidents. She also indicated that 200 buses would be operated to transport visitors from the various celebration areas to different parts of the city, specifically to Metro stations, to facilitate the exit process, noting that those buses will be free for the public within their specified tracks.
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Metro and Tram timings
The Red Line of Dubai Metro will be in operation from 5am on Thursday, December 31, to 1am on Saturday, January 2. The Green Line will start its service at 5.30am on Thursday, December 31, to iam on Saturday, January 2.
Dubai Tram will run from 6am on Thursday, December 31, to 1am on Saturday, January 2.