650,000 to throng Downtown Dubai for New Year's Eve

Dubai - The police have allocated 160 sites for the New Year revellers to watch the famed annual fireworks display.

Over 650,000 residents and tourists are expected to throng Dubai's Downtown area to take part in the emirate's New Year celebrations. The police have allocated 160 sites for the New Year revellers to watch the famed annual fireworks display. Of these sites, 23 are in the Downtown area.
In the Downtown area, the police have anticipated that 400,000 residents will throng The Dubai Mall; 200,000 residents at the Burj Khalifa area; 27,000 at The Address Hotel zone; and 13,000 at the Souq Al Bahar.
Brigadier Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, director of the general department of the security bodies, enterprises and emergency, said preparations are in full swing to ensure a smooth movement for people to event hotspots and return to their homes safely.
He advised the public to reach the events area well before 8pm. He called on the public to cooperate with the police and abide by instructions in order to avoid traffic congestions. He also called on them to leave some space for the police officers.
Separate paths for bachelors and families
Brig Al Marri said the police have set up three paths for pedestrians to go to the events area.
On the first path, two separate tracks will lead from the Burj Khalifa Metro station to the events area - one for families that will lead to the Promenade, and the other for bachelors that will lead to the South Ridge.
The second path will be for families going to the Boulevard area from the Financial Centre Metro station, while the third track is for those coming from the Business Bay station.
After disembarking at Metro stations, commuters will be sorted to singles and families within specific pathways.

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