Dubai activates New Year 2026 maritime traffic plan including Marina, Harbor and Palm Jumeirah
Dubai’s maritime authorities have implemented a comprehensive maritime traffic management plan during the 2026 New Year celebrations, with measures aimed at ensuring safety and maintaining smooth navigation during one of the busiest times of the year.
The Dubai Maritime Authority, part of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, has announced the activation of the latest operating system as part of its approach to improve maritime safety and control the movement of ships in Dubai’s waters.
The authority has confirmed that the implementation of the program will begin on Wednesday night, December 31, 2025.
It will be fully operational from 10pm on December 31, 2025 until 2am on January 1, 2026.
Dubai NYE marine program
Coordinated field operations measures will control marine traffic in the most congested areas, especially in Dubai Marina, Dubai Harbour, and Palm Jumeirah, where the concentration of vessels is expected to increase significantly during the New Year celebrations.
The plan includes the use of a one-way navigation system before and after midnight, as well as a temporary suspension of navigation during the New Year period.
Marine traffic under the Palm Jumeirah bridges will be closed during peak hours from 10pm on December 31, 2025 until 2am on January 1, 2026.
Ships will be separated by size, with clearly defined routes and mandatory time windows given to each category to ensure orderly movement and reduce congestion and collision risks.
Maritime safety program
Sheikh Dr. Saeed bin Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Executive Director of the Dubai Maritime Authority, said these measures demonstrate the Authority’s commitment to maintaining high levels of maritime safety and ensuring the flow of water in highly congested areas.
He said the program is in line with Dubai’s status as a global destination for major festivals and events, where safe and efficient maritime operations are critical during peak business hours.
Sheikh Dr. Saeed added that the surveillance and monitoring teams will work around the clock in collaboration with the relevant organizations to ensure compliance with the orders issued and monitor violations.
Legal action will be taken immediately against the violators in accordance with the approved laws and regulations.
He noted that the program includes strict control of anchoring and drifting, control of mooring areas, and prevention of violations at transit stations.
Full compliance with international rules for preventing collisions at sea will be enforced, including maintaining safe distances between ships and avoiding changes of course except in extreme emergencies.
Guidance for ship operators
The authority emphasized that all ship owners, marine agents, marinas, yacht clubs, and recreational boat operators must fully comply with the approved action plan and guidelines to ensure a safe and orderly marine environment during the New Year celebrations.
The Dubai Maritime Authority also advises all boat users and seafarers to carefully check current weather conditions and forecasts before and during sea travel, citing the possibility of unstable or bad weather during New Year 2026.
As part of the implementation of this initiative, the Authority held a special workshop with strategic partners and navies across Dubai. The workshop discussed operational readiness and coordination of institutions to ensure the safety of maritime vessels during the celebrations.
Discussions included sea routes and movement schedules, methods of controlling ship movements, planning of ship movements, planning surveillance and monitoring, and operational coordination between the organizations involved.
These sessions also addressed strict regulations, authorized marine areas, methods of monitoring compliance, enforcement of fines, communication protocols, emergency procedures, and potential problem areas at sea.
The authority said the integrated approach ensures the implementation of systems and regulations governing the movement of maritime vessels during the New Year 2026, supporting high levels of safety and smooth flow of maritime traffic in Dubai’s waters.
