High security in Palm Jumeirah for fireworks bid

Restricted access to the area irks Sandance Musical festival visitors,Traffic plans for New Year eve announced.

Getting to Palm Jumeirah, the site of a world record fireworks attempt, on December 31 could be a tough task with security officials on hand to restrict access to the area. Entry will only be given to home owners and hotel guests carrying valid event passes.

The restrictions are being put in place as part of safety and security arrangements to safeguard the fireworks attempt, which, if successful, would make Palm Jumeirah and The World Islands home to the world’s largest fireworks display.

Traffic plans for Palm Jumeirah on Dec 31 Access to The Palm Jumeirah will be restricted to Event Pass holders only. Residents can use their passes to bring in their guests, providing they follow the permitted access timetable. 8am to 9pm – Access to Event Pass holders in their personal vehicles and passengers in taxis holding event passes. 9pm to 10.30pm – Access to Passengers in taxis holding event passes only 10.30pm – 1am – Strictly no access. All car traffic will be frozen and exceptions made only for emergency situations. Walking around The Palm Jumeirah will be restricted from 10.30pm onwards to ensure the safety of residents and visitors during the show. All deliveries to The Palm Jumeirah must be made prior to 5pm, and delivery vehicles must have an Event Pass. muaz@khaleejtimes.com

No access will be provided to cars after 10.30pm and roads will open only after 1pm. For residents living on Palm Jumeirah, access to houses will only be allowed till 9pm.

Guests visiting the area will only be allowed in with a resident’s pass or hotel access. Walking around the area will not be allowed after 10:30pm and the entire area will be covered under different safety zones.

Visitors to the Sandance Music Festival happening on New Year’s Eve at The Atlantis Hotel beach were evidently upset by the announcement, as they are now being asked to go to the American University of Dubai to collect the wristbands they need to access the concert on the beach. They would then board a bus to get into the event arena.

The Sandance Facebook page was flooded with complaints from ticket holders, some of whom were seeking a refund from the organiser.

“The fireworks will be fired from numerous locations around The Palm Jumeirah; the Trunk Road; the Crescent Road; the Monorail; and in the water between the Fronds in the Crown area. Police will be creating Safety Zones around these locations,” read a note on the official event website for Dubai World Record 2014.

Confirming the plans, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority Traffic and Roads Agency traffic director Hussain Al Banna told Khaleej Times: “We are coordinating with Palm Jumeirah and traffic management plans have been put in place. We will also manage traffic flow in Downtown Dubai and traffic diversion plans will be communicated to members of the public over next few days.”

The Palm Jumeirah real estate developer Nakheel declined to comment on the matter and directed all queries to event organisers, who did not respond to Khaleej Times before the newspaper went to print.

muaz@khaleejtimes.com