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Dubai Metro on New Year’s Eve: the hours and station rules from 31 December 2025
Updated
Last New Year’s Eve the Dubai Metro was timetabled to run non-stop for 43 hours: from 5am on Wednesday 31 December 2025 to 11:59pm on Thursday 1 January 2026. The station next to the Burj Khalifa show was due to close to entry from 5pm.
The official plan for 31 December 2026 is not out yet, so the metro and tram hours here are last season’s. Last season it came out on 26 December 2025, and this page changes the same day.
Last season’s timetable (31 December 2025)
| Service | From | Until |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Metro, Red and Green Lines | 5am, Wednesday 31 December 2025 | 11:59pm, Thursday 1 January 2026 |
| Dubai Tram | 6am, Wednesday 31 December 2025 | 1am, Friday 2 January 2026 |
Sources: Dubai Media Office, 26 December 2025, and RTA’s timetable of 29 December 2025. Both were published before the night.
People used it. RTA counted 1,249,636 passengers on the metro’s Red and Green Lines that night and 58,052 on the tram, out of 2,836,859 on public transport, taxis and shared transport together.
Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station: the 5pm rule
The station next to the show was due to close to entry from 5pm on 31 December 2025, or earlier if it filled up. That was RTA’s plan as reported by Khaleej Times; The National and Gulf News reported it too, in slightly different words. No report we read shows whether it shut at 5pm sharp.
The stations either side are Financial Centre and Business Bay, and those were the ones to use.
Just after midnight, RTA said the station was closed and named Financial Centre, Business Bay, Emirates Towers and World Trade Centre for the way home. Gulf News’s live blog posted that at 12:03am.
Emaar’s own pages still told visitors to get off at Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, and said only that the metro “may close”, depending on the crowd.
It may be easier in future. In January 2026 RTA and Emaar agreed to enlarge the station from 7,250 to 12,320 passengers an hour. The release gives no finish date.
Park and ride, and your nol card
Stations with car parks recommended last season: Centrepoint, e&, National Paints and Jumeirah Golf Estates. About 8,000 parking spaces were announced at metro stations.
Extra trains were announced for Emirates Towers, Financial Centre, Business Bay and Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, Gulf News reported.
Gulf News advised a nol balance of at least AED 15 on a Silver card and AED 30 on a Gold card for the round trip. Check today’s nol rules before you rely on those figures.
JBR and the Palm
For the JBR fireworks, Gulf News said people were encouraged to use the Dubai Tram, which was timetabled to run through the night.
The Palm Monorail is a separate line with its own operator. Its ordinary last trains leave Gateway at 9:45pm and Atlantis at 10pm. The Palm Monorail has not announced late trains for 31 December 2026 yet.
The roads are in our road closures guide.
Want a table for the night?
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Questions
Does the Dubai Metro run all night on New Year’s Eve?
Last season it was timetabled to: non-stop from 5am on 31 December 2025 to 11:59pm on 1 January 2026, 43 hours in all. The official plan for 31 December 2026 is not out yet, so the metro and tram hours here are last season’s. Last season it came out on 26 December 2025, and this page changes the same day.
Does Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station close on New Year’s Eve?
Last season it was due to close to entry from 5pm, or earlier if full. That was RTA’s plan as reported by Khaleej Times, The National and Gulf News. Just after midnight RTA said the station was closed and sent people to Financial Centre, Business Bay, Emirates Towers and World Trade Centre.
Which metro station is best for the Burj Khalifa fireworks?
Last season the advice was Financial Centre or Business Bay, the stations either side of Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. Gulf News also named Emirates Towers and World Trade Centre.
How many people take the metro on New Year’s Eve?
RTA counted 1,249,636 passengers on the Red and Green Lines on the night of 31 December 2025.