Last year, Emaar estimated that around half a million people congregated in the Downtown area to watch th midnight fireworks display at the Burj Khalifa. Congestion at Dubai Metro stations and gridlock on the roads – particularly around Defence Roundabout – meant that many were stuck for ages on Sheik Zayed Road and thousands opted to walk home.
This year, the RTA announced that the Metro will run services on the Red Line every three minutes between 12am and 5.30am. In addition, extra gates have been installed at Burj Khalifa station, and the agency says it has streamlined movement at the Financial Center and Business Bay stations.
To ease congestion in the Downtown area, the RTA has also set up a park and ride scheme, creating around 10,000 parking spaces at several sites including Meydan, Dubai World Trade Center and Zabeel Park, all of which will be served by 63 extra buses.
There will be an extra 4,000 taxis deployed during the night.
The Boulevard Street at Burj Khalifa will be closed once the parking slots are full to avoid potential traffic congestions in the area
RTA will reset the programmed timing of the key light signals on the Financial Center Street to fit the traffic volumes generated during the peak hours, and deploy makeshift virtual messaging signs on the main roads to alert commuters about the condition of the parking space in Dubai Mall.
Key message is have fun and enjoy yourself but dont drink and drive and expect delays or go early.
