Dubai Police chalk out New Year security plan

Dubai - For New Year's eve, the Dubai Police will provide additional support to Dubai Mall's security staff

The Dubai Police on Monday held a meeting to discuss a safety plan for the upcoming New Year's Eve celebrations.
More than 1.5 million people are expected to converge in the Downtown area during the New Year's Eve to watch the fireworks at the Burj Khalifa.
The meeting presided over by Major-General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police, reviewed the security arrangements for the venue and other places.
At least 10 officers will monitor The Dubai Mall festivities from the operations control room at the Downtown Command control centre. The other operations room, located at the Dubai Police Headquarters, will monitor the crowds and traffic across Dubai.
Brigadier Abdulla Ali Abdulla Al Ghithi, director-general of department of protective security & emergency, said: "The Dubai Mall already has its own security staff. But for the New Year Eve, the Dubai Police will provide additional support to them. We have more than 5,000 cameras in that area and we will ramp up security with CID patrols, officers from the department of protective security, traffic patrol cars, RTA and Dubai Municipality pitching in. People from different groups will work together to ensure that the celebrations go smoothly.
"We will have events not only in The Dubai Mall, but in several other places such as the beaches, the Palm Jumeirah and so on. We have a huge responsibility to keep people safe. We are focusing on The Dubai Mall celebrations, as people go there in maximum numbers." Asked if drones will be used to monitor traffic, Brig Al Ghithi said: "It would be difficult to use them as there will be fireworks. We will try to use them, but it would depend on many factors."
Plan to close road by 6pm
If you want to enjoy the fireworks and festivities, ditch the car and use public transport.
Brigadier Abdulla Ali Abdulla Al Ghithi, director-general of department of protective security & emergency, said: "It's better to use the Dubai Metro instead of car, because we plan to close the roads leading to The Dubai Mall after 6pm on December 31. All the Metro stations will be open during the day, but Burj Khalifa Metro station will close at 10pm."
Meanwhile, Sheikh Zayed Road will not be closed and pedestrians are prohibited from crossing the road and are advised to use the Metro or the shuttle buses.
nilanjana@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai