Dubai fully prepared to secure 2023 New Year's Eve celebrations

The Executive Committee for Securing International and Local Events in Dubai is fully prepared for securing the celebrations of the 2023 New Year’s Eve.

The preparations rest on a smart plan mapped out by the Dubai Police in conjunction with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to ease traffic movement and mobility on the Eve of the New Year through smart monitoring of roads using 10 thousand cameras, by the Enterprise Command and Control Centre of the RTA.

His Excellency 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, said,

"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."

Al Mazrouei confirmed that the committee would deploy all human and technical resources to ensure the smooth movement of all visitors at the celebration locations. He highlighted the importance of coordinating efforts to ensure pleasant and secure celebrations, which are expected to witness a massive footfall of spectators of different nationalities.

Major General Saif Al Mazrouei urged the public to cooperate with police and adhere to traffic instructions to avoid congestion and to call Dubai Police on 999 for emergencies and 901 for non-emergencies or approach the officers on site.

"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,"

he continued.

Public Routes

Major General Saif Al Mazrouei said 32 locations across the city had been allocated dazzling to ease traffic and ensure accessibility and safety. He explained that the Executive Committee for Securing International and Local Events had dedicated three routes for the public to reach the Burj Khalifa area using Dubai metro:

There will be three routes:

The first is from the Burj Khalifa station and is divided into two paths, one for families and heads to the Island Park and the area behind the Tower View, and the other is dedicated to other groups and heads to the South Ridge where viewers can enjoy the fireworks.
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 heads to the South Edge area.
Meanwhile, the third route is for those arriving from the Business Bay station.

According to Maj. Gen. Al Mazrouei, the committee has developed an integrated plan for individuals intending to reach the fireworks areas by metro, which also includes separated paths for families to move on specific routes, after-show exit routes and fire exits for emergencies.

"Burj Khalifa station and the metro link, which connects to the Dubai Mall, will be closed at 05:00 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 noted.

Traffic Management

Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of Public Transport Agency and Deputy Chairman of the Transportation Systems Management Committee during Events, said the traffic and transportation movement would be managed on New Year's Eve from RTA’s Enterprise Command and Control Centre (EC3), one of the largest and the most sophisticated control centres in the world. He noted that teams from RTA, Dubai Police, Civil Defense and the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services will be deployed on the EC3 on New Year's Eve to follow up and streamline the movement of traffic and visitors during New Year's Eve in various hotspots in Dubai, especially in Burj Khalifa area.

Through the Traffic and Transportation Systems Management Committee during Events, RTA coordinated with the Executive Committee for Securing International and Local Events in Dubai and Emaar and completed preparations to manage the traffic for the New Year's Eve event according to a comprehensive traffic plan, especially in the Burj Khalifa area.

Bahrozyan added that RTA’s teams, in coordination with the Operations Room of Dubai Police and Emaar, will be present at the site as well as in all control centres, including Emaar Control Room and the Dubai Intelligent Traffic Systems centre. He noted that the plan included five key pillars aimed to ensure the smooth flow of traffic through relying on RTA’s mass transit services as well as other services in coordination with the police, Emaar and stakeholders that aim to make concerted efforts for the success of the event.

First Pillar: Road Closure and Timings

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard will be closed at 04:00 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,"

commented Bahrozyan.

The Lower Deck of the Financial Centre Road and Al Sukook Street will be closed at 04:00 pm. A closure of Al Asayel Road, extending from Oud Metha Road and leading to Burj Khalifa district, is scheduled at 04:00 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 04:00 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 05:00 pm.”

said Bahrozyan.

Second Pillar: Metro and tram Services

Bahrozyan confirmed that the red and green lines of the Dubai Metro will operate starting from 5:00 am on Saturday 12/31/2022 so that the metro will continue to operate continuously until 12 am on Monday 02/01/2023 for a period of 43 hours. The tram from 6:00 am on Saturday 12/31/2022 until 1:00 am on Monday corresponding to 01/02/2023, in order to facilitate the public’s access to the event area and the exit process after the end of the shows.

Third Pillar: Additional Parking Lots

“The public will have access to approximately 1500 parking spaces outside the event area for moving to and from the site of the event via the commuter bus service, which will be in operation starting at 03:00 pm. A total of 1000 parking spaces will be available at Al Wasl Club, while 500 will be allocated at Al Jafiliya's General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs,”

added Bahrozyan.

Fourth Pillar: Public Transport Services

Bahrozyan added that 210 buses would be deployed to lift visitors' exit from the event venue especially to the nearby metro stations and parking lots. On the following routes, the bus service will be free of charge for commuters on the 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.

Fifth Pillar: 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,”

he further added.

Sixth Pillar: Directional Signage and Intelligent Traffic Systems

“RTA will install directional signs to guide the public within Burj Khalifa District to ease the 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.

“For public safety, 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,”

concluded Bahrozyan.

Civil defence preparations

His Excellency BRIG Expert Ali Hassan Al Mutawa, Assistant Director -General of Dubai Civil Defence for Fire and Rescue Affairs confirmed the readiness of the Dubai Civil Defence for securing the events of the New Year's Eve 2023. He noted that the DCD teams have divided the festivities sites into three main sectors (Deira, Bur Dubai, and Jebel Ali & the Waterfront).

Al-Mutawa commented on preparations with partners in the run-up to the celebrations, saying:

"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."

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.

Ambulance preparations

His Excellency Mishaal Abdul Karim Julfar, Executive Director of the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, said,

"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.

This year we allocated 1200 competent staff and deployed 287 vehicles over 30 activities in four sectors. Our 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.”

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). Community members are urged to be more patient, observe the guidance of RTA and Police personnel, and use alternative roads as shown in the directional signs.

News Source: Dubai Media Office