Access to the Palm Jumeirah will be restricted in the days leading up to this year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations.
“Due to the planned World Record Firework display on New Year’s Eve, we have been informed that there will be significant access restrictions to the Palm Jumeirah,” Novus Community Management said in a message to Golden Mile residents.
According to instructions from Novus, all residents of the Golden Mile, Shoreline and North and South Residences will need to display a pass on their vehicles from December 28 to gain access to the Palm during the lead up to the rehearsal as well as the actual event.
Each apartment will be issued a number of passes according to their parking bays. The passes, which can be collected from building concierges, will be handed out only after residents sign for them and show proof of residency. The passes are not transferable.
“The public car park between Golden Mile buildings six and seven will be closed off for use as of this date. Any vehicles, boats, trailers not removed will be impounded by the authorities,” the notice states.
“We strongly suggest that all residents who are expecting visitors to encourage them to use public transport. There will be no visitor parking allowed. No pass means no access to the Palm.”
The restrictions will affect resident Saber Nias’ daily schedule. “This is unbelievable. I have to go to work on all those days. How will I be able to get in and out of the Palm?” asked the 30-year-old Dutch national, who lives in building seven in Golden Mile.
“I always park there, where else can we park if you have more than one car?”
The expatriate said his only option was to park outside the Palm and have his wife drop him off at his car every morning.
Mr Nias and his wife, Palm residents for four years, said although the restrictions would not affect their New Year’s plans, they wondered how their friends would join them at a planned event. “Luckily this year we decided not to have a party and go to Sandance instead, but we still have a friend joining us. I don’t know how she will be able to get here, especially since the tickets are in my name.”
Mohammed Sharif, whose family always gather at their villa on Frond A for New Year’s Eve, said: “I have to talk to the management and see what we can do, we have a lot of family coming to the villa that day.”
His parents, seven siblings, their spouses and children had planned to come together to enjoy a great view of the fireworks.
“The rules that have been implemented are insane,” said the 28-year-old Emirati businessman. “Our New Year’s plans will have to be based on these ridiculous rules. My personal plans have certainly gone down the drain, as I had intended to spend time with friends in Jumeirah, before heading to the Palm at 11.30pm to see the fireworks.”
Mr Sharif said he must now decide either to spend time with friends or see the fireworks with his family.
On December 29, Trunk Road will be closed between 9 and 10pm. No parking on the Crescent will be permitted and there will be heavy restrictions on entering the Palm.
On December 31 from 8am onwards, a pass will be required to gain access to the Palm. For visitors arriving by taxi, these passes will need to be provided at the check point, Al Sufouh’s Monorail station. There are a limited number of passes available.
All roads to the Palm will be closed to traffic from 10.30pm and are most likely to reopen at 12.45am on January 1.
“Everyone will be dressed up and not meant to travel a great distance on foot,” said Mr Nias. “I might have to take two pairs of shoes, one for the suit and one for the walk. I don’t know how we’ll get off the beach either.”
malkhan@thenational.ae
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
How to help or find other cats to adopt
Strait of Hormuz
Fujairah is a crucial hub for fuel storage and is just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route linking Middle East oil producers to markets in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond.
The strait is 33 km wide at its narrowest point, but the shipping lane is just three km wide in either direction. Almost a fifth of oil consumed across the world passes through the strait.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait, a move that would risk inviting geopolitical and economic turmoil.
Last month, Iran issued a new warning that it would block the strait, if it was prevented from using the waterway following a US decision to end exemptions from sanctions for major Iranian oil importers.
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2021 World Triathlon Championship Series
May 15: Yokohama, Japan
June 5: Leeds, UK
June 24: Montreal, Canada
July 10: Hamburg, Germany
Aug 17-22: Edmonton, Canada (World Triathlon Championship Final)
Nov 5-6 : Abu Dhabi, UAE
Date TBC: Chengdu, China
Dr Graham's three goals
Short term
Establish logistics and systems needed to globally deploy vaccines
Intermediate term
Build biomedical workforces in low- and middle-income nations
Long term
A prototype pathogen approach for pandemic preparedness
FIXTURES
UAE’s remaining fixtures in World Cup qualification R2
Oct 8: Malaysia (h)
Oct 13: Indonesia (a)
Nov 12: Thailand (h)
Nov 17: Vietnam (h)
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
FA Cup semi-finals
Saturday: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, 8.15pm (UAE)
Sunday: Chelsea v Southampton, 6pm (UAE)
Matches on Bein Sports
