Dubai’s Extravagant New Year’s Eve Celebration

Dubai is gearing up for one of the globe’s most spectacular New Year’s Eve celebrations, and you won’t want to miss any of the excitement! With a dazzling fireworks display at the iconic Burj Khalifa as the main event, numerous other festivities are set to light up the city. However, it’s important to note that public transport will be operating on an altered schedule during this festive week. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the timings for the Dubai Metro, public buses, and essential road closures to keep in mind as we approach the big day. To ensure you enjoy a seamless experience, we’ve gathered all the crucial information regarding transport schedules and road closures for December 31 and January 1, 2025.

The Dubai Metro New Year’s Eve Timings

Traveling around Dubai is incredibly convenient via the Dubai Metro, which offers a direct route to Burj Khalifa on the Red Line. From December 28 to January 1, the operational hours of the Metro have been extended, as announced by the RTA. For the days leading up to New Year’s Eve (December 28, 29, and 30), the Metro will open two hours earlier each day to accommodate visitors arriving at Dubai International Airport.

On these days, services will commence from the Centrepoint Station to GGICO Station from 2 AM instead of the usual 5 AM on Saturday and Monday, or 8 AM on Sunday. Typically, the Dubai Metro operates from 5 AM to midnight on Monday to Thursday and Saturday, 5 AM to 1 AM on Fridays, and 8 AM to midnight on Sundays. However, on December 31 to January 1, the Metro will be in operation for an impressive 43 consecutive hours, starting at 5 AM on Tuesday and continuing non-stop until 11:59 PM on Wednesday.

Dubai Road Closures on New Year’s Eve

The fireworks display at Burj Khalifa promises to be an unforgettable way to welcome the New Year. To facilitate the festivities and manage the expected crowds, the RTA has announced that several major roads in the city center will be closed for an extended period. These closures are designed to alleviate congestion in areas around Burj Khalifa, which are likely to be busier than usual during the celebrations. If you typically use the following roads, it’s advisable to plan your journey in advance:

• Al Asayel Street (from Oud Metha Road to Burj Khalifa) – Closed from 4 PM
• Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard – Closed from 4 PM, depending on parking availability
• Burj Khalifa Street – Closed from 4 PM, depending on parking availability
• Al Mustaqbal Street – Closed from 4 PM, depending on parking availability
• Lower Financial Centre Street – Closed from 4 PM
• Upper Financial Centre Street – Closed from 8 PM
• Al Sukook Street – Closed from 8 PM

Authorities advise that if you have reservations in these areas, you should arrive before 4 PM to avoid inconvenience.

Dubai Public Bus Timings on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

In an effort to accommodate the influx of revelers, Dubai will deploy over 1,400 buses, providing free rides to those wishing to partake in the festivities. This fleet includes 260 shuttle buses that will transport guests to key locations, such as Burj Khalifa. The fleet will feature 20 double-decker buses alongside 240 standard buses. To further ease transportation, additional parking for 900 vehicles will be available at Al Wasl Club and Al Jaffliya, with shuttle services commencing from these locations at 3 PM.

On December 31 and January 1, the intercity E100 bus route between Dubai and Abu Dhabi from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station will be temporarily suspended. However, the E101 route will continue to operate between the two cities from Ibn Battuta Bus Station. Similarly, the E102 service from Al Jafiliya Bus Station will be halted, but passengers can still travel using the same route from Ibn Battuta Bus Station to Shabiya Musaffah in Abu Dhabi. Inner city buses will run as usual, though the RTA recommends checking the S’hail app for real-time updates on timings.

Dubai Tram New Year’s Eve Schedule

Experience the festivities by hopping on the Dubai Tram, which will also extend its operational hours during the New Year’s celebrations. The tram services will commence at 6 AM on December 31 and will continue until 1 AM on January 2. Normally, the tram operates from 6 AM to 1 AM during weekdays. This extended schedule will provide an additional six hours of service after the celebrations conclude, ensuring you can enjoy the post-festivities atmosphere.

Dubai Marine Transport on New Year’s Eve

The RTA has also shared the timings for marine transport for those planning to use abra, ferry, or water taxi services. The following are the water taxi timings:

• Marina Mall to Bluewaters (BM3): From 4 PM to midnight
• On-demand services: From 3 PM to 11 PM (booking required)
• Marina Mall 1 to Marina Walk (BM1): From noon to 11:10 PM
• Marina Promenade to Marina Mall 1 (BM1): From 1:50 PM to 9:45 PM
• Marina Terrace to Marina Walk (BM1): From 1:50 PM to 9:50 PM
• Full route: From 3:55 PM to 9:50 PM

Additionally, here are the ferry timings:

• Al Ghubaiba to Dubai Water Canal (FR1): At 1 PM and 6 PM
• Dubai Water Canal to Al Ghubaiba (FR1): At 2:25 PM and 7:25 PM
• Dubai Water Canal to Bluewaters (FR2): At 1:50 PM and 6:50 PM
• Bluewaters to Marina Mall (FR2): At 2:55 PM and 7:55 PM
• Marina Mall to Bluewaters (FR2): At 1 PM and 6 PM
• Bluewaters to Dubai Water Canal (FR2): At 1:20 PM and 6:20 PM
• Tourist trips from Marina Mall: At 4:30 PM
• Al Ghubaiba to Aquarium (Sharjah) (FR5): At 3 PM, 5 PM, 8 PM, and 10 PM
• Aquarium (Sharjah) to Al Ghubaiba (FR5): At 2 PM, 4 PM, 6 PM, and 9 PM
• Tourist trips from Al Jaddaf, Dubai Creek Harbour, and Dubai Festival City (TR7): From 4 PM to 12:30 AM (next day)

Lastly, here are the abra timings:

• Dubai Old Souq to Baniyas (CR3): From 11 AM to 11:50 PM
• Al Fahidi to Al Sabkha (CR4): From 11 AM to 11:45 PM
• Al Fahidi to Deira Old Souq (CR5): From 11 AM to 11:45 PM
• Baniyas to Al Seef (CR6): From 11 AM to 12:20 AM (after midnight)
• Al Seef to Al Fahidi to Dubai Old Souq (CR7): From 3:10 PM to 10:55 PM
• Al Jaddaf to Dubai Festival City (BM2): From 7:30 AM to 4 PM
• Al Jaddaf to Dubai Creek Harbour (CR11): From 7:15 AM to 4 PM

Tourist trip timings are:

• Al Seef, Al Fahidi, and Baniyas (TR10): From 4 PM to 10:15 PM
• Dubai Water Canal and Sheikh Zayed Marine Station (TR6): From 4 PM to 10:15 PM
• Al Wajeha, Al Marasi, Business Bay, Godolphin, Sheikh Zayed Road (DC2): From 3:35 PM to 10:05 PM
• Al Jaddaf to Dubai Design District (DC3): From 4 PM to 1 PM
• Roundtrips in Marina Mall 1 (TR8): From 4 PM to 10:15 PM

Dubai Public Parking on New Year’s Day

The Dubai government has announced that all public parking areas will be free of charge on January 1, the city’s public holiday. However, it’s important to note that this exemption does not extend to multi-storey parking facilities, and standard parking fees will resume on January 2.

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