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Getting around Dubai on New Year’s Eve: metro, tram, taxis and the drive home
Updated
Take the metro. Last New Year’s Eve (31 December 2025) the metro and the tram were timetabled to run through the night, while the roads around Burj Khalifa closed in steps from 4pm and taxis reached Downtown only until the closures began. RTA counted 2,836,859 passengers on public transport, taxis and shared transport in Dubai, 1,249,636 of them on the metro.
The official plan for 31 December 2026 is not out yet, so the metro, tram and road details here are last season’s. Last season it came out on 26 December 2025, and this page changes the same day.
Last season at a glance (31 December 2025)
| What was planned or reported | |
|---|---|
| Metro | Non-stop from 5am on 31 December to 11:59pm on 1 January. |
| Tram | From 6am on 31 December to 1am on 2 January. |
| Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station | Due to close to entry from 5pm, or earlier if full. RTA’s plan as reported by Khaleej Times. |
| Roads around Burj Khalifa | Closed in steps from 4pm to 11pm. |
| Taxis into Downtown | Until the closures began, typically 4pm, Emaar said. |
| JBR | Private cars barred from 4pm under RTA’s plan. Taxis only on the main road. |
| Sheikh Zayed Road | Reported closed by 11:39pm and open again by 1:19am. |
| Palm Monorail | Ordinary last trains: 9:45pm from Gateway, 10pm from Atlantis. |
Sources: Dubai Media Office, Khaleej Times, Gulf News, Emaar and the Palm Monorail’s timetable. The first six rows are plans announced before the night.
The roads are in our road closures guide and the trains in our metro guide.
Taxis and ride-hailing
More than 14,000 taxis, more than 18,000 limousines and more than 1,300 buses were in service, the official plan said.
After the fireworks, free RTA buses took people from Downtown to metro stations, car parks and two taxi points, at Al Wasl Club and Al Kifaf.
At JBR, ride-hailing cars and limousines were barred from the main road between 11pm and 1am, and RTA put 700 to 1,000 taxis there for the way home.
Driving and parking
RTA’s suggested ways round the closures were Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Al Ain Road and Dubai-Hatta Road. Parking and stopping were banned on Al Khail Road, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai-Al Ain Road and Oud Metha Road.
About 20,000 parking spaces were announced in the Burj Khalifa area, with overflow parking at Al Wasl Club and Al Kifaf. From 4pm to 8pm a free RTA bus ran from behind Swissôtel Al Murooj to those two car parks. It took people out of Downtown, not in.
Emaar’s own car parks for badge holders arriving after 4pm were Al Wasl Club and Al Meydan (Falcon Heritage and Sports Centre). Its shuttle started at 4pm, made its last run in at 11pm and began return runs at 12:30am.
A hotel or restaurant badge gave no priority for a car once the roads were closed. Emaar said cars could leave Dubai Mall parking between 1am and 2am, depending on the authorities.
Public parking was free on 1 January 2026, except multi-storey car parks and Al Khail Gate N-365.
Buses and boats
Intercity bus E100 from Al Ghubaiba to Abu Dhabi stopped from the afternoon of 31 December 2025 until 4 January 2026. RTA pointed passengers to E101 from Ibn Battuta.
Public bus routes from Al Quoz Industrial Area, Oud Al Muteena and Jebel Ali Industrial Area to the Burj Khalifa district were suspended on the day, Gulf News’s live blog reported.
RTA sold fireworks trips on the water. The Dubai Ferry left from the Marina Mall, Al Ghubaiba and Bluewaters stations between 10pm and 10:30pm, and the trips ended at 1:30am, at AED 350 in Silver Class and AED 525 in Gold Class. An abra seat was AED 150, and a water taxi for 20 people was AED 3,750.
The Palm
The Palm Monorail is the only public transport on the Palm, its operator says. The Palm Monorail has not announced late trains for 31 December 2026 yet. When it is not running, the tram and RTA buses still reach Palm Gateway at the foot of the Palm, and taxis cover the rest, Gulf News wrote.
More on our Atlantis page.
The day after
1 January 2027 is a Friday and a public holiday on the UAE’s standing list. Last season the metro was timetabled to keep running until 11:59pm on 1 January.
Want a table for the night?
These venues take New Year's Eve enquiries on WhatsApp now. You book directly with the venue, and we charge no fee.
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Questions
What is the best way to get to the Burj Khalifa fireworks?
Last season: by metro to Financial Centre or Business Bay, well before the evening. Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station was due to close to entry from 5pm, and taxis reached Downtown only until the roads closed, at about 4pm.
Can I get a taxi after midnight on New Year’s Eve?
Last season the taxi points for Downtown were at Al Wasl Club and Al Kifaf, reached by free RTA bus after the fireworks. More than 14,000 taxis were in service across the city.
Does a hotel or restaurant booking let me drive in?
Not last season. Emaar said hotel and restaurant badges gave no priority vehicle access once the roads were closed.
Can I trust a normal navigation estimate on New Year’s Eve?
Use it for distance, not for time. Last season the roads around Burj Khalifa closed in steps from 4pm, and Sheikh Zayed Road was reported open again by 1:19am.