DUBAI // One hundred and seventy buses will be used to ferry passengers to and from car parks across the emirate this New Year’s Eve.
The Road and Transport Authority (RTA) said it will close the Burj Khalifa Metro station at 10pm on New Year’s Eve and the public will be directed instead to the Financial Centre and Business Bay stations.
About 900,000 people are expected to use the Metro service on December 31 and 480,000 on New Year’s Day itself, the RTA said.
“The team had taken every action needed to ease the flow of traffic within Burj Khalifa during the New Year’s celebrations,” said Maitha bin Udai, chief executive of Roads and Traffic Agency and head of the traffic movement and the handling of operational plans during annual events team.
“The plan includes the provision of extra parking slots, and more feeder buses shuttling round-the-clock until 1am on Saturday.”
Buses and taxis will be able to use dedicated lanes, and Ms Bin Udai advised motorists to avoid the Financial Centre Street and Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard after 8pm on Thursday.
Only traffic exiting the area and the emergency vehicles will be allowed access.
Al Asayel Street from Oud Metha to Burj Khalifa will be closed and reserved for RTA buses providing free shuttles from the Al Wasl Parking yard to the pick-up and drop-off point at Al Abraj Street at Burj Khalifa.
“This year, the team has provided 5,000 additional parking slots to support the 17,000 slots within the events area,” she said.
These additional spaces include 1,500 spaces at the Trade Centre, 2,000 at Al Wasl Club, 500 at Al Jafliya at the Residency and Foreigners Affairs Department, and 1,000 at Zabeel Park.
Dubai Police will supervise a temporary pedestrian crossing point on Sheikh Zayed Road near the Burj Khalifa Metro station.
Plans have also been made to make sure that there will be enough taxis available for booking to meet demand, said Ms Bin Udai.
Staff in the RTA’s control room will monitor traffic signals in the area to make sure traffic flows as smoothly as possible and signs have been erected to guide the public to alternative roads if needed.
Ms Bin Udai urged New Year’s Eve revellers to use the Metro and public transport rather than their own vehicles.
› See a map of Dubai's public transport services for New Year's Eve here.
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