Abu Dhabi authorities have unveiled comprehensive traffic management protocols in preparation for the upcoming New Year festivities. Effective from noon on December 31, 2025, through 6:00 AM on January 1, 2026, stringent restrictions will prohibit trucks, heavy freight vehicles, and labor transport buses from operating within Abu Dhabi Island’s core traffic zones. Supplementary controls will simultaneously affect the Abu Dhabi-Al Ain Road (E22) corridor during identical operational hours.
Additional movement constraints will be enforced along Hazza Bin Sultan Street in Al Ain from December 31 at noon until January 1 at 1:00 AM. Furthermore, partial intersection closures along King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street will be implemented from January 1 through January 5, 2026, facilitating extended celebration activities and pedestrian safety measures.
These traffic mitigation strategies represent standard operational procedures for large-scale public events, specifically designed to optimize traffic flow and enhance public safety during peak celebration periods. Transportation authorities strongly advise motorists and commercial operators to strategically plan alternative routes utilizing perimeter roads outside the island complex while emphasizing compliance with official directives to prevent penalties and unnecessary delays.
The emirate’s New Year programming features spectacular celebrations including the flagship Sheikh Zayed Festival at Al Wathba, promising an elaborate display combining synchronized drone formations, advanced pyrotechnics, and cultural presentations reflecting Emirati heritage. With over sixty fireworks locations scheduled across the UAE, residents and visitors will have numerous options for midnight countdown events featuring enhanced safety protocols at waterfront promenades, festival grounds, and community spaces.
Coinciding with the federal designation of January 1, 2026, as an official public holiday, the extended weekend includes remote work provisions for government employees, allowing broad participation in the celebrations across the capital city and surrounding emirates.