What’s On explains RTA’s traffic master plan for New Year’s Eve in Dubai, including metro, bus and tram operating hours on December 31.

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Motorists are being told of an elaborate NYE master plan created by the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) for the evening of December 31 as Dubai gears up for its New Year’s Eve celebrations.

The RTA expects about 820,000 passengers to use public transport on New Year’s Eve and about 490,000 passengers the next day and advice to commuters is to make use of public transportation as roads will be equally crowded and parking spaces limited, especially in the Downtown area.

“The team has taken all necessary measures to facilitate traffic movement at Burj Khalifa area during the celebration of New Year’s Eve and day,” said Maitha bin Udai, the team leader and chief executive of RTA Traffic and Roads Agency.

METRO
Dubai Metro will continue service throughout the night on New Year’s Eve. While the Red Line will offer continuous services starting from 5.30am on Wednesday December 31, until 1am on Friday, January 2, the Green Line will offer the same service from 5.50am on Wednesday December 31 up until midnight on Friday, January 2.

Be warned: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station will be closed from 10pm on Wednesday, December 31, until 6am on Thursday, January 1, 2015. Meanwhile, the pedestrian bridge at Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station will be closed at midnight.

“This has been done to carry out better crowd management in the area,” said Hussein al Banna, the official spokesperson for the RTA.

Commuters will be encouraged to disembark at Business Bay station or Financial Centre station, where they can walk to the Downtown area or take a bus free-of-charge, as a dedicated bus fleet will be available at both stations.

TRAM
Similarly Dubai Tram will continue services throughout the night New Year’s Eve.

**Read more: A complete guide to Dubai Tram**

Continuous services on Dubai Tram will start from 6.30am on Wednesday December 31 up to 1.30am on Friday January 2. During celebrations for the Prophet’s birthday the tram service will be from 6.30am on Saturday 3 January to 1.30am.

BUS
Additional buses will be deployed in the Downtown area on New Year’s Eve to deal with the increase in passengers. After the fireworks at Burj Khalfia, commuters will be able to board several buses at different locations in the Downtown area and at the surrounding Metro stations.

“We will rely on buses as a prime transit means upon the completion of the New Year’s celebrations at Burj Khalifa-Dubai Mall where 130 buses will be deployed”.

Free bus rides will also be provided from Burj Khalifa –Dubai Mall station to Dubai World Trade Centre, Jafiliya parking area and the parking yard of Al Wasl Sports Club, where additional parking spaces will be made available free of charge.

For more info, visit rta.ae