Are you going to Burj Khalifa, The Palm, or Jumeirah Beach to watch the fireworks? If so, it’s crucial to be aware that the roads leading to these spots will be shut down before the fireworks, so unless you have a reservation at a restaurant, you will need to go to designated tourist viewing areas.
If you’re in the neighbourhood on December 31, 2022, please be aware of the following traffic strategy from Dubai’s Roads and Transport (RTA) for New Year’s Eve.
Road Closure and Timings
When the car park is full, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard will be shut down at 4 o’clock.
At 4 o’clock, the Financial Center Road’s Lower Deck will be shut down.
At 8 o’clock, Al Sukook Street will be closed.
At 4 pm, Al Asayel Road, which runs from Oud Metha Road to the Burj Khalifa neighbourhood, will be closed to all traffic except for public transportation and emergency vehicles.
Starting at 4 o’clock, Al Mustaqbal Street will gradually close between Second Za’abeel Road and Al Meydan Road.
Extra parking spaces
Additional parking spaces will be available at these locations for guests:
- Zabeel area’s Al Wasl Club (1,000 parking spaces)
- Al Jaffliya is home to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) headquarters (500 parking spaces)
Visitors will be transported to the fireworks places from these parking spaces on special buses.
- To get to the places of the fireworks via the Metro, you can also use the parking spots at Metro stations.
Metro timings
From 5 p.m., the Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa Station will be closed.
However, other Metro stations will stay open, as the Dubai Metro runs through the night.
Plan your trip to the Burj Khalifa fireworks show
Visitdubai.ae, Dubai’s official tourism website, also provided some tips for travellers to keep in mind if they intend to view the fireworks at some of the city’s most popular spots. Here’s how to organise your day:
Where are the viewing points?
In Downtown Dubai, there are public viewing spots where you may enjoy the Burj Khalifa fireworks. Although entry is free and there is no need to make a reservation in advance, it is still advisable to attend as early as possible because it will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Visitors can enter the area through five different sites across Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard:
Gate 1: Behind Downtown Command Centre
Gate 2: Behind Burj Vista
Gate 3: Near Emaar Square, adjacent to Boulevard Plaza Building
Gate 4: Opposite Address Boulevard
Gate 5: Opposite Address Downtown
Can one park at Dubai Mall?
While parking will be available at Dubai Mall, it will be closed when it reaches full capacity.
Can one take the Metro?
As previously stated, the Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa Metro Station will close at 5 o’clock, or earlier if more people arrive than the station can accommodate. If you decide to use the Metro after this time, you might be able to board a feeder bus at one of the Metro stations close by, such as Business Bay or Financial Centre.
To avoid any delays when utilising public transportation, RTA encouraged passengers to make sure their Nol vehicle has a balance of at least Dh15.
Can one take a taxi?
Prior to the implementation of road closures, taxis will run as usual; however, once the road restrictions are in place, taxis won’t be able to access Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard.
Plan your trip to the Palm Jumeirah fireworks show
If you intend to attend events on the Palm Jumeirah, you might want to park in one of the 1,600 places at the Palm Gateway Station or arrange to be picked up there before boarding the Palm Monorail to get to the island. The Dubai Tram has a connection to the Palm Gateway Station as well.
It is simple to move down the main trunk of the island thanks to the monorail’s stops at Golden Mall Galleria, Al Ittihad Park, Nakheel Mall, The Pointe, and Atlantis, The Palm. Palm Monorail will be available from 9 a.m. on December 31, 2022, till 3 a.m. on January 1, 2023, to help individuals travelling to celebrations.
For those who wish to view the fireworks from a prime beachfront location, a free shuttle bus will be available from Nakheel Mall to The Pointe from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Plan your trip to the Jumeirah Beach Residences and Dubai Marina fireworks show
Although there aren’t any formally declared traffic restrictions in this busy location, taking the Metro or a tram can make it simpler to reach your destination.
All you have to do is travel to the Sobha Realty Metro Station in Dubai Marina on the Metro Red Line. To get to the Marina Towers Tram Station from there, take the Dubai Tram. You can take a short stroll from there to the Dubai Marina shoreline to view the fireworks. However, because this is a well-known location for seeing fireworks, it is crucial to plan your journey and leave early.