Downtown Dubai roads close for New Year’s Eve celebrations

Emirate will stage 36 fireworks displays in 29 locations

Fireworks illuminate the sky around Burj Khalifa. EPA

Burj Khalifa's New Year's Eve fireworks. Ruel Pableo for The National

Burj Khalifa's New Year's Eve fireworks. Ruel Pableo for The National

Ras Al Khaimah puts on a record-breaking fireworks display on New Year's Eve. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ras Al Khaimah puts on a record-breaking fireworks display on New Year's Eve. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Burj Khalifa lights up in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Burj Khalifa's New Year's Eve fireworks taken from Shangri-La Hotel's roof top. Ruel Pableo for The National

Fireworks at Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Fireworks at Al Maryah Island. Victor Besa / The National

Ski divers with special lights fly over Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, ahead of the celebrations. EPA

People gather near to Burj Khalifa prior to the fireworks. EPA

Revellers arrive at Dubai Mall to watch the fireworks at Burj Khalifai. Pawan Singh / The National

Revellers arrive at Dubai Mall to watch the fireworks at Burj Khalifai. Pawan Singh / The National

Security on duty at Dubai Mall in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Staff of Five Guys restaurant at Dubai Mall pose for a New Year photo. Pawan Singh / The National

Lights decorate Dubai Mall. Pawan Singh / The National

Partygoers at the beach at Ras Al Khaimah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Revellers arrive at Dubai Mall to watch the fireworks at Burj Khalifai. Pawan Singh / The National

Partygoers at the beach at Ras Al Khaimah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Paramedic staff outside Dubai Mall. Pawan Singh / The National

Revellers arrive at Dubai Mall to watch the fireworks at Burj Khalifai. Pawan Singh / The National

The crowd thickens during NYE celebrations at Galleria Mall, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

DJ Roger Abboud rocks the house down at the NYE celebrations at Galleria Mall, Al Maryah Island. Victor Besa / The National

The Ahmad family awaits the NYE fireworks at Galleria Mall, Al Maryah Island. Victor Besa / The National

Children enjoy face painting at Galleria Mall, Al Maryah Island. Victor Besa / The National

A boy dances to the beat during NYE celebrations at Galleria Mall, Al Maryah Island. Victor Besa / The National

A couple celebrating NYE at Galleria Mall, Al Maryah Island. Victor Besa / The National

People gather near to Burj Khalifa prior to the fireworks. EPA

People gather near to Burj Khalifa prior to the fireworks. EPA

People gather near to Burj Khalifa prior to the fireworks. EPA

People at the beach at Ras Al Khaimah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Street entertainers at the beach at Ras Al Khaimah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The roads around Downtown Dubai are now closed in anticipation of tonight's New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Al Asayel Street, towards the area around Burj Khalifa, is closed, as is Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Burj Khalifa St and Financial Centre Street lower deck.

On Thursday, Dubai announced guidelines for New Year’s Eve celebrations in the emirate.

Firework displays will be held in 29 places in the emirate to discourage mass gatherings and encourage spectators to practise social distancing, Dubai Media Office said on Twitter.

Thirty-six shows of spectacular pyrotechnics will light up the skies above several landmark sites in the emirate, with shows planned at Burj Khalifa, Expo 2020 Dubai and Atlantis The Palm.

Burj Khalifa will stage the Eve of Wonders at the stroke of midnight on Friday. Visitors can expect impressive fireworks and light shows, as well as a new laser feature that will make its debut at The Dubai Fountain in sync with Burj Khalifa's programme.

There will be be two firework displays at Expo 2020 Dubai – one at midnight and another at 3am on Saturday.

Expo visitors can also expect 13 hours of non-stop festivities, beginning at 3pm. There will be entertainment from world-famous DJs, a midnight “ball drop” at Al Wasl Plaza and celebrations at some of the 192 country pavilions to celebrate the occasion.

Masks must be worn at all times when celebrating New Year’s Eve in public. The penalty for not wearing one when required to do so is Dh3,000 ($816).

Residents are reminded to follow all precautionary measures set out by the emirate to halt the spread of Covid-19.

The directive came from Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai.

Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, Chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, said strong preventive measures had helped to keep people safe.

“Dubai has continuously monitored local and global developments to take the decisive action necessary to protect the community and implement precautionary measures outlined by local and international health authorities,” he said in a statement.

“Every member of the community should stringently observe the preventive guidelines in place, including wearing face masks and observing social distancing, to protect their families and others.”

Dubai Ambulance crews are also on standby to handle any emergencies. At least 219 emergency vehicles, 873 paramedics, 60 volunteers and 35 supervisors will cover the dozens of events taking place across the emirate, Dubai Ambulance said.

Expo 2020 Dubai, for example, will be secured by nine emergency vehicles, an ambulance bus, a field support unit and eight first responder vehicles.

Six ambulances and 16 paramedics will be at Dubai Mall, while around Burj Khalifa, authorities will station 15 emergency vehicles.

Palm Jumeirah, Global Village and Burj Al Arab are among the other locations where emergency services will be stationed.