Dubai Maritime Authority announces the activation of maritime traffic management procedures during the 2026 New Year celebrations

The Dubai Maritime Authority, affiliated with the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, announced the activation of the final action plan for managing maritime traffic during New Year’s Eve 2026 celebrations, as part of its proactive approach aimed at enhancing the safety of maritime navigation and ensuring the smooth flow of maritime traffic in the waters of the Emirate of Dubai during peak periods.
The Authority confirmed that the plan will begin implementation as of the evening of Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and will enter into actual implementation during the period extending from ten o’clock in the evening on December 31, 2025 until two o’clock in the morning on January 1, 2026, and includes integrated field operational procedures to regulate the movement of marine means in areas with high density, especially in the vicinity of Dubai Marina, Dubai Harbour, and Palm Jumeirah.
The plan includes implementing a one-way system for maritime navigation before and after midnight, in addition to imposing a temporary ban on navigation during the time transition phase, and closing maritime traffic under the two Palm Jumeirah bridges during peak hours extending from ten o’clock in the evening on December 31, 2025 until two o’clock in the morning on January 1, 2026, with the classification of maritime means according to size and specifying clear routes and mandatory time windows for each category, ensuring smooth movement and reducing the risks of congestion and collision.
Dr. Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Executive Director of the Dubai Maritime Authority, confirmed that activating the final action plan for maritime traffic management during New Year’s Eve 2026 comes within the framework of the Authority’s keenness to enhance the highest standards of maritime safety, and to ensure the smooth flow of maritime traffic in areas with high density, and in keeping with Dubai’s position as a global destination for major celebrations and events.
The Executive Director of the Authority stated that the patrol and monitoring teams are working in the field around the clock, in coordination with the concerned authorities, to follow up on compliance with the instructions issued, and monitor any violations to take immediate legal measures against violators in accordance with the approved legislation and regulations, adding that the action plan includes strict controls for anchoring and drifting, organizing marine anchoring areas, and preventing any violations within the navigational channels, with full compliance with international regulations to prevent collisions at sea, maintaining appropriate safety distances between marine means, and not changing routes except in cases of emergency. Maximum.
The Authority also advises all users of marine means and seafarers of the need to carefully evaluate the prevailing and expected weather conditions before and during any cruise, given the possibility of fluctuating and bad weather conditions expected during New Year’s Eve 2026.
The Authority stressed that all marine craft owners, marine agents, marinas, yacht clubs, and recreational boat captains are obligated to fully adhere to the work plan and approved operational instructions, ensuring a safe and organized marine environment that enables everyone to enjoy New Year’s Eve celebrations with the utmost safety.
Within the framework of implementing the final action plan, the Dubai Maritime Authority held a specialized coordination workshop with the relevant strategic partners and marinas in the Emirate of Dubai, during which operational readiness was reviewed and institutional integration was ensured to ensure the safety of maritime navigation during New Year’s Eve 2026 in the emirate’s waters. The workshop witnessed a discussion of maritime traffic routes and timings, mechanisms for managing navigational flow and planning the movement of maritime vessels, in addition to reviewing arrangements for patrols, monitoring and operational coordination between the concerned authorities. The workshop also discussed strategies Organizing the movement of marine crafts, including assembly mechanisms, route distribution, operational arrangements adopted for each category, and weather forecasts.
During the workshop, mooring rules and approved marine areas were clarified, mechanisms for monitoring compliance and imposing penalties on violators were discussed, in addition to reviewing communication protocols and emergency procedures, and identifying locations of potential maritime bottlenecks. Emphasis was also placed on the implementation of the rules and regulations governing the movement of marine means during New Year’s Eve 2026 operations, to ensure the highest levels of safety and smoothness in maritime movement.