No security incidents reported during New Year’s Eve in Dubai – police

No traffic or security violations were reported in Dubai during the New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Dubai police chief has confirmed.

Around one million people were estimated to have gathered around the Downtown Dubai area alone to witness the fireworks show at the Burj Khalifa heralding the start of 2019.

Read: In pictures, video: Dubai ushers in 2019 with spectacular fireworks

“No incidents, security breaches or injuries were reported during the New Year’s celebration, although more than two million nationals from a large number of countries gathered across the emirate to participate in the celebrations,” said major general Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, commander-in-chief of Dubai Police.

The organising of the celebration was overseen by the the events security committee (ESC), with the participation of 40 entities from all the relevant sectors.

Dubai Police deployed 4,000 officers on duty as well as 2,000 patrol teams across the emirate to manage security. A total of 12,000 surveillance cameras were also set up to monitor the venues and surrounding residential areas of the main celebrations.

Brigadier Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, chairman of ESC, said that the committee in Dubai had announced a comprehensive plan to ensure the safety of revellers and smooth traffic flow during the New Year’s Eve celebrations.

He also also thanked the rest of the police departments that had kept an eye on the security situations in different parts of the emirate.

Dubai held a spectacular celebration to usher in 2019, with fireworks in several locations including the Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, Global Village, Atlantis The Palm and Dubai Festival City.

The show at the Burj Khalifa, which was themed ‘time and progression’, saw over 9,400 fireworks fired from 2,017 positions, according to developer Emaar.

The New Year’s Eve celebration also featured the ‘longest show to date of The Dubai Fountain’.