Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is rolling out its most ambitious New Year mobility plan yet. From 5 am on 31 December until 11:59 pm on 1 January, the Red and Green Metro lines will operate continuously—43 hours without a break—backed up by a fully deployed tram network, 14,000 taxis and more than 1,300 buses.
The upside for business travellers and residents: seamless movement between hotels, meeting venues and celebration zones even during the traditional gridlock hours before the midnight fireworks. The downside: motorists will face phased closures beginning at 4 pm that eventually envelop Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Financial Centre Roads, Burj Khalifa Street and, by 11 pm, sections of Sheikh Zayed Road. A full closure of Sheikh Zayed from 6 am 31 Dec to 2 am 2 Jan is also on the cards for finishing-line clean-up.
![Dubai Metro to Run 43 Hours Non-Stop; Extensive Road Closures Set for New Year’s Eve]()
Joint teams from RTA, Dubai Police and Civil Defence will control traffic lights centrally and feed live updates to smart variable-message signs and navigation apps. Last year the integrated plan moved 2.5 million passengers—an 8 % year-on-year rise—and officials are projecting another record this weekend.
Corporate mobility leads should shift airport pick-up points to Metro-connected hotels where possible and push calendar invites an hour earlier. Event organisers must pre-clear delivery windows with the Unified Control Centre to avoid vehicles being caught inside the cordon. Ride-hailing surge pricing is expected, so finance teams may wish to lift per-diem caps temporarily.
The RTA emphasises that the extended Metro hours also apply on 26 December, opening night of the Dubai Shopping Festival, offering a test run for the New Year scheme.
The upside for business travellers and residents: seamless movement between hotels, meeting venues and celebration zones even during the traditional gridlock hours before the midnight fireworks. The downside: motorists will face phased closures beginning at 4 pm that eventually envelop Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Financial Centre Roads, Burj Khalifa Street and, by 11 pm, sections of Sheikh Zayed Road. A full closure of Sheikh Zayed from 6 am 31 Dec to 2 am 2 Jan is also on the cards for finishing-line clean-up.
Joint teams from RTA, Dubai Police and Civil Defence will control traffic lights centrally and feed live updates to smart variable-message signs and navigation apps. Last year the integrated plan moved 2.5 million passengers—an 8 % year-on-year rise—and officials are projecting another record this weekend.
Corporate mobility leads should shift airport pick-up points to Metro-connected hotels where possible and push calendar invites an hour earlier. Event organisers must pre-clear delivery windows with the Unified Control Centre to avoid vehicles being caught inside the cordon. Ride-hailing surge pricing is expected, so finance teams may wish to lift per-diem caps temporarily.
The RTA emphasises that the extended Metro hours also apply on 26 December, opening night of the Dubai Shopping Festival, offering a test run for the New Year scheme.
Source: Khaleej Times
