Road closures will be in place from 4pm and free buses laid on in Dubai as thousands of revellers gear up for spectacular New Year's Eve celebrations.
A video released by the Roads and Transport Authority earlier this week revealed public transport timings and which major roads will be closed to help party-goers plan their evening.
Al Asayel Street, Burj Khalifa Street, Financial Centre Street Lower Deck and Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard will all be closed from 4pm.
Parts of Al Mustaqbal Street will be closed gradually from 4pm.
From 8pm, Al Sukook Street will close. One hour later, Financial Centre Street Upper Deck will also close to motorists.
Dubai's water canal elevators and pedestrian bridges will be closed in Al Safa and Business Bay areas.
The Executive Committee for Securing International and Local Events announced the fireworks displays would be in 32 locations in various areas of Dubai, to reduce overcrowding.
Getting to the Burj Khalifa
The committee identified three paths for members of the public to use to get to the Burj Khalifa area from nearby metro stations.
The first path is from Burj Khalifa station and will be divided into two parts, a section for families to the Al Jazeera Park area and the area behind the "Burj View". The second section will be for other groups and will lead to the "South Ridge", the area designated for watching fireworks.
The second path will be from Financial Centre station, where a section will be allocated for families heading to the Boulevard area, while the second section will be for other groups going to the South Edge area.
The third path will be for those coming from Business Bay station.
Burj Khalifa station and the metro bridge that connects to the Dubai Mall will be closed at 5pm on Saturday, or when the numbers exceed the capacity of the station.
The metro's green line will start operating at 5am on December 31 until midnight on January 2.
Dubai Tram will be in service from 6am on Saturday until 1am on Monday.
Free buses
To ease congestion and facilitate movement, authorities are providing 210 buses free of charge to transport people from events to nearby parking areas and metro stations.
- Sheikh Zayed Road in the direction of the Financial Centre to take the public from Burj Khalifa metro station to Al Wasl Club, MAX Fashion metro station, and Deira City Centre.
- Sheikh Zayed Road heading to Abu Dhabi to take riders from Burj Khalifa metro station to Al Safa metro station.
- Financial Centre Road to the parking area of Al Wasl Club, Deira City Centre and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.
- Burj Khalifa Street heading to Deira City Centre metro station.
- Business Bay metro station along Sheikh Zayed Road to Deira City Centre metro station.
Emergency services
Dubai Civil Defence announced this week they had carried out numerous drills to prepare for any eventuality on New Year's Eve, and have focused attention on three main sectors, Deira, Bur Dubai, and Jebel Ali and the waterfront.
According to Ali Hassan Al Mutawa, assistant director general of Dubai Civil Defence for Fire and Rescue Affairs, numerous buildings downtown were inspected to make sure they met fire safety regulations before the New Year's Eve fireworks show.
"The Dubai Civil Defence teams carried out inspections of buildings and facilities in which events will be held to ensure that they fulfil the requirements of prevention, safety and fire protection systems," he said in a written statement.
"Most notably the teams inspected the Burj Khalifa and adjacent 68 buildings to ensure a ready safe environment for receiving celebrators."
For medical emergencies, 1,200 responders and 287 vehicles will be on duty at 30 activities in four areas.
"Our technical equipment includes ambulances, rapid responders, bicycles, boats, air ambulances in co-operation with the Dubai Police Air Wing Centre, and the supply vehicles for field support," said Mishaal Abdul Karim Julfar, executive director of the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services.
Full details of all road closures and public transport timings can be found here.
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
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4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
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6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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