Dubai:His Excellency Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, has praised the exceptional and professional efforts of the Events Security Committee (ESC) in implementing a comprehensive security plan during the festivities of the New Year 2021 and in ensuring the precautionary measures against Covid-19 are adhered to by spectators.

Lt. Gen Al Marri confirmed Dubai has proved once again that we are the pioneers of organising and hosting international events and overcoming security and safety challenges imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“The ESC, with the participation of 40 governmental and semi-governmental entities, has contributed to strengthening and highlighting Dubai’s leading and distinguished position in organizing the largest and most popular events,” Lt. Gen Al Marri said. 

The Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police also praised the fruitful coordination between the ESC and members of the public across 23 locations where fireworks were displayed. 

219 Minor Traffic Accidents 

Brigadier Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, Director of Dubai Traffic Police and Chairman of ESC, also thanked the rest of the police departments that had kept an eye on the security situations in different parts of the emirate. He added that ESC has always had an outstanding, proud, and successful record in securing events, properties, and people’s lives.

Furthermore, Brig. Al Mazroui revealed that the General Directorate of Traffic in Dubai recorded 219 minor traffic accidents across the emirate’s roads during the New Year’s celebrations.  

Public Transport and Transportation

Brigadier Obaid Al Hathboor, Director of the Transportation Security Department (TSD), said that the Department successfully ensured the security and safety of the public transport and the emirate’s transportation system on the New Year's Eve.
“TSD thoroughly implemented the announced precautionary measures for public transport users, and dealt professionally with a large number of spectators,” he said. 
Brig. Al Hathboor explained that they had laid out scenarios and worked closely with their partners in Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Serco (the Dubai Metro Operator), (Emaar), and others to ensure smooth traffic during the festivities. 

16K Calls 

Colonel Turki Abdurrahman bin Faris, Director of the Command & Control Centre at the General Department of Operations in Dubai Police, said the Centre received 16,761 calls during the celebrations. 

He explained that 14,4267 of these calls were handled by the force’s emergency hotline (999), while the force's non-emergency hotline 901 received 2,494 calls during the same period.