This year, Dubai has taken its New Year’s celebrations to unprecedented heights with the deployment of 53,199 cameras and 38 drones for the first time to secure the festivities. This remarkable security initiative aims to ensure the safety and enjoyment of both residents and visitors during one of the most anticipated events on the global calendar.
Comprehensive Security Measures
Thousands of military and civilian personnel from the Event Security Committee worked tirelessly to safeguard the vibrant New Year festivities across 40 key locations in Dubai. Utilizing the latest technology, the committee introduced a groundbreaking approach by deploying 38 drones for the first time, marking a significant increase from just eight drones used in last year’s celebrations.
The event was closely monitored through a network of 53,199 surveillance cameras, meticulously distributed across various locations to provide real-time updates to seven central command centers, including the significant Downtown Dubai operations center surrounding the iconic Burj Khalifa.
Commitment to Public Safety
According to Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, the Chief of Dubai Police, “Dubai may well be the only city in the world to celebrate the New Year across 40 major sites,” highlighting the trust and confidence the local community and global visitors place in the emirate’s safety measures. A collaborative effort involving 55 public and private entities worked under the Event Security Committee to ensure the celebrations were executed flawlessly, both in terms of security and organization.
Al Marri also noted that teams from various departments have developed significant expertise in managing large-scale events and have enhanced their capabilities through advanced technological systems. The expanded use of drones has been made possible by the Drone Systems Center, which includes a ‘drone box’ system to improve response times to incidents, providing essential data to the command center for effective decision-making.
Fire and Emergency Services
Brigadier General Jamal bin Ahd Al Mehiri, Deputy Commander General of Dubai Civil Defense, shared insights from the Burj Khalifa celebration site, confirming the strategic deployment of firefighters throughout event locations. “More than 1,754 firefighters from officers and staff were on standby,” he mentioned, with over 156 specialized units prepared, including 12 marine firefighting vessels.
Al Mehiri added that Civil Defense utilized a mobile operations room in the Burj Khalifa area, which could relay live updates to the central command center to swiftly manage any emergencies that may arise during the festivities.
Emergency Medical Services Ready
In a statement reflecting the collaborative spirit of the celebrations, Mishal Abdulkarim Jalfar, CEO of Dubai Ambulance Services, emphasized that the New Year festivities have become a distinguished event where all agencies perform their roles cohesively under the Event Security Committee, in partnership with the Dubai Health Authority. During the Burj Khalifa events, the ambulance services deployed emergency support buses designed for effectively handling a large number of patients simultaneously.
Additionally, the organization provided remote medical consultation through a dedicated emergency doctor in the main operations room who offered immediate medical assistance over the phone to individuals who did not require transport to a field hospital.
The implementation of 53,199 cameras and 38 drones for the first time to secure the New Year celebrations stands as a testament to the emirate’s commitment to safety and enjoyment during large-scale events. This year’s celebrations reflect careful planning, technological advancement, and community collaboration, further solidifying Dubai’s reputation as a premier destination for global visitors.