The Maritime Authority of Dubai has announced that it will use the mandatory marine traffic management strategy during the 2026 New Year’s Eve festival to guarantee order and safety throughout the emirate’s waterways.
The plan will be implemented throughout the peak times between 10 pm on December 31 and 2 am on January 1, 2026, the Dubai Maritime Authority (DMA), which is a branch of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, asserted in a statement.
Sheikh Dr Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum, who is the executive director of the DMA, stated that the authority will deploy an integrated marine traffic management plan whenever the activity is increased, especially at the beginning and the end of the calendar year, to protect the visitors and people who attend the fireworks shows that are organized over Dubai’s waters.
He urged owners of vessels, agents, marinas, and yacht clubs to pre-brief crews and passengers, emphasizing the need to follow specific routes and to keep safe distances when passing.
The authority has also released a detailed guide in addition to their navigational warning that covers maps, timings, and organizational directions of the marine movements on New Year’s Eve.
As marine activity is predicted to rise, the DMA reported it has come up with an inclusive plan on the basis of a one-way traffic flow, allocated time of departure, and turnaround time depending on the size of vessels and individual marina arrangements.
The actions are aimed at minimizing congestion, reducing the risks of collision, and ensuring unobstructed traffic flow in the most important points, such as Dubai Marina, Dubai Harbour Marina, the east and west marinas of Palm Jumeirah, and the access points to Dubai Water Canal.
The authority urged all marine vessels to adhere to all given directions and instructions of marinas and make arrangements during trips based on the prescribed routes, the weather conditions, and the capabilities of the vessels.
It reported that the safety of navigation and compliance with collision-preventive regulations are priorities in the period.
Sheikh Dr Saeed indicated that inspecting teams that will be operating with the strategic partners will be stationed in strategic locations to enforce compliance. Therefore, the vessel movements will be monitored using AIS systems, cameras, and maritime patrols.
Such violations will be penalized by under Dubai’s executive regulations governing vessel licensing, such as potential suspension of vessel licences, captains, or crew members. He said that there were no accidents that had been registered during the past New Year’s Eve celebrations, keeping the accident rate at zero.
The authority is focused on keeping this record, which is the ability of Dubai to handle large-scale events and maintain the security of both residents and visitors on land and at sea.
