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28 March 2024

Dubai NYE: 24-min fireworks, traffic plans; 'live' stream in New York

Dubai Media Office has confirmed the live broadcast of the Dubai NYE fireworks will be beamed at Times Square, New York as it happens. (Supplied)

Published
By Bindu Rai

It is the biggest night of the year as Dubai counts down for the 23-kilometre long midnight fireworks spectacle that will start at Burk Khalifa at the stroke of midnight and travel across to Burj Al Arab, before continuing its journey to the grand finale at Jumeirah Beach Residence.

Residents and visitors will be spoilt for choice as Dubai Tourism announces a schedule for its dazzling fireworks that will take us into the first 24 minutes of the New Year with a string of choreographed displays that will set off at the pinnacle of the emirate, the Burj Khalifa.

This year, the Dubai Media Office has also confirmed the live broadcast of the Dubai NYE fireworks will be beamed at Times Square, New York as it happens.

24-minutes firework schedule

Six months in the planning and having taken two months to set it up, the combined multimedia and fireworks extravaganza will see close to nine tonnes of fireworks fired from over 685 positions in Dubai by more than 100 specialist technicians, revealed the Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

Fireworks will continuously make their way from Downtown through the Business Bay Canal, along the Jumeirah coastline leading to the iconic Burj Al Arab before climaxing in a six-minute and 20 seconds crescendo at The Beach by Meraas, opposite to Jumeriah Beach Residence (JBR).

Burj Khalifa and Downtown, 12am-12.07am: At the stroke of midnight, the Downtown Dubai New Year’s Eve Gala will set off with clearly defined themed-acts, each highlighting an inspiring facet of the emirate, stated Emaar, with the crowning glory being the visual-masterpiece of the Burj Khalifa fireworks and light displays.

This year’s futuristic theme will see the façade narrate a story that will be presented in multiple hues and forms, each resonating with Dubai residents and the global community.

Fireworks cascade along Jumeriah to Burj Al Arab, 12.07am-12.09am: Visitors to Downtown Dubai can watch the spectacle from specially allocated viewing points in Burj Park, as well as from Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, where visitors can view the spectacle free of cost.

Burj Al Arab, 12.09-12.15am: At sharp 12.09am, turns your eyes towards Jumeirah as the Burj Al Arab will light up with its own spectacle of lights, marking the New Year amidst fanfare and melodrama, to the backdrop of the moonlit Arabian Gulf.

Fireworks cascade down to The Beach, opposite JBR, 12.15-12.16am: The domino effect show means Dubai residents and visitors will be able to watch the show from multiple vantage points, helping in reducing traffic flows around Downtown and opening up the spectacle to people across the city.

Specialist screens will also broadcast the event live at Kite Beach, Al Sufouh Beach and JBR.

Finale at The Beach, opposite JBR: 12.16-12.23: And the showstopper for the night will be marked at the Jumeirah Beach Residences, where, at the stroke of 12.16am, another string of fireworks will light up new Dubai while The Palm Island glistens in the background.

Traffic and parking guideline

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has highlighted some key essential points to remember tonight:

-Burj Khalifa Metro Station will be closed from 10pm on Thursday, December 31 2015, and the public will be directed to the Financial Center and the Business Bay stations where extra directional signage will be in place.

-Metro timings: Burj Khalifa metro station will be closed from 10pm, yes, however Dubai Metro will continue to operate non-stop on Thursday, Friday and early Saturday.

-It will be crowded: The number of the metro riders during the festivities time on Thursday is expected to hover around 900,000 riders, and on Friday, the metro ridership is expected to be in the order of 480,000 persons.

-Dedicated lanes would be provided for buses and taxis, with the RTA calling on motorists to avoid using the Financial Center Street and the Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard after 8pm on Thursday December 31, adding that such streets will be reserved for traffic exiting the place and emergency cases only.

-Parking: This year the Team has provided 5,000 additional parking slots to support the currently existing 17,000 parking slots within the events area.

These additional parking spaces include 1,500 parking slots at the Trade Center, 2,000 parking slots at Al Wasl Club, 500 parking slots at Al Jafliya (Parking yard of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Department), and 1,000 parking slots at Zabeel Park.

Road closures

Dubai Police has reinforced that streets adjacent to the events will close on December 31:

-Al Saada Road will be closed from 6pm.

-Vehicles will be barred access on the road from the Murooj Rotana hotel leading to the Burj Khalifa area.

-The Zabeel intersection will close at 8pm, as will the roundabout in front of Jumeirah Emirates Towers street leading to Al Saada Road from 10pm.

-Al Asayel Road will be closed from 4pm and will be open only for public transport vehicles and VIPs.

-There will also be no traffic movement from the Burj Khalifa Metro station from 10pm to 6am.

-The Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard will be closed from 6pm to 8pm, while the Burj Khalifa Metro station will be closed from 10pm on New Year’s Eve to 6am the next day.

-The Major General also requested members of the public attempting to see the celebrations to ensure there is smooth flowing traffic movement on Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road to facilitate traffic flow from the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard area.

Click to enlarge the Map

Viewing areas

Several areas have been identified as key spots to watch the fireworks displays in the Burj Khalifa area, which include the waterfront of Dubai Mall, Al Jazeera Park, Souk Al Bahar area, Tower Plaza Building, South Bridge, Boulevard Road, Business Bay Crossing area.

Similar viewing areas have been marked to witness the fireworks displays near the Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Residence and The Palm Jumeirah.

Public paths

To ensure the safety of all those involved, private pedestrian paths will be set up for the transition of members of the public from the metro stations, including the Burj Khalifa station for a distance of 850 meters, the Financial Center station to a distance of 1,550 meters, and the from the Business Bay metro station across 1,500 meters.

The commission has identified private paths for families and invitees only at the Burj Khalifa and Business Bay station.