Dubai is preparing to welcome the New Year 2026 with a grand celebration. Citing the high density of visitors on New Year’s Eve 2026, Dubai RTA has rolled out new timings for the public transport services. Check the new timings below.

Also read: This new Dubai RTA road project will cut driving time by 75 percent

Dubai RTA extends public transport timings

Considering the large number of anticipated visitors for New Year’s Eve 2026, Dubai RTA has extended the public transport service timings for better services. The revised timings for various public transports are as follows:

1. Dubai Metro timings for New Year 2026:

Dubai Metro will operate for 43 hours continuously to accommodate visitors for the New Year celebrations. As per the details, the Dubai Metro will start at 5:00 AM on Wednesday (December 31, 2025) and operate till 11:59 PM on Thursday (January 1, 2026).

2. Dubai Tram timings for New Year 2026:

Dubai Tram will also operate on an extended schedule. It will operate from 6:00 AM on Wednesday (December 31) until 1:00 AM on Friday (January 2, 2026).

Dubai RTA has issued a special advisory for the high-traffic stations to accommodate the passenger flow without interruptions. These stations include the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, Business Bay, Financial Centre, and Emirates Towers.

3. Dubai Buses and Taxis deployed

Since the expectation for visitor count is millions, Dubai RTA has deployed over 14,000 taxis, 1,300 dedicated buses, and 18,000 luxury/limo services to accommodate visitors.

Dubai RTA announces road closures for the New Year 2026

Considering the high volume of visitors for the New Year 2026 celebrations, Dubai RTA has announced the closure of the following roads starting from December 31, 2025:

• 4 PM onwards: Al Sayel Street, Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Burj Khalifa Street, Al Mustaqbal Street, and the Lower Financial Road.
   
• 8 PM onwards: Al Mulook Street
   
• 9 PM onwards: Upper Financial Street
   
• 11 PM onwards: Sheikh Zayed Road
   
• Complete closure of Sheikh Zayed Road from 6 AM on December 31, 2025, to 2 AM January 2, 2026.

Dubai RTA’s advisory on New Year’s Eve 2026

Since residents and visitors will rush towards the hot spots to enjoy the fireworks and celebrations of the New Year, Dubai RTA has rolled out the following advisory for a flawless experience:

• The most important advice to all motorists is to avoid Downtown Dubai. The extreme rush will create long traffic jams, which will result in a cascading effect, and it might also mean you won't be able to witness the New Year’s celebrations.
   
• Rely on public transport as Dubai RTA has extensively deployed public transport by extending timings and volume of buses and taxis.
   
• The Burj Khalifa Metro Station can be closed as early as 5 PM due to heavy rush. This is subject to the volume of visitors.
   
• Visitors must add significant extra travel time to their regular schedule due to the heavy traffic congestion and heavy foot traffic.

Cars24 UAE says

New Year’s Eve 2026 is going to be one of the most memorable moments for all visitors and residents of Dubai. By following the Dubai RTA’s advisory, visitors can easily enjoy the celebrations and reduce fatigue from unnecessary traffic congestion by using public transport.