Dubai: The city is all set to come alive with an exciting display of fireworks for the opening ceremony of the Dubai Shopping Festival 2006.
The show, whose message this year is 'expect the world and get it', starts at 7.30pm with lasers and fireworks conducted at seven locations.
"The Dubai Shopping Festival is entering a new era, as we bring to visitors a whole new DSF, totally different from previous editions," said DSF Chief Executive Saeed Mohammad Al Naboudah.
Thirty-eight technicians will be stationed at each of the seven locations to make sure the event runs smoothly.
"It's quite the norm for the Dubai Shopping Festival to get going with a colourful crescendo," said William Prentice of Zarco, who is in charge of the Fireworks. "This 11th edition of DSF is all set to go into the annals of history in golden words."
The fireworks have been brought from Sydney Fireworks Factory in Australia who were also responsible for the fireworks marking the opening of the Sydney Opera.
"Our department has already inspected all the locations for the fireworks and examined all the safety measures and I can assure that everything is in order and ready to go," said First Lt. Esmail Abdullah, Deputy Head of the DSF Safety Committee from the General Administration of Civil Defence, Dubai.
In total, the traffic committee has assigned 150 officers to each location including Al Maktoum Bridge where one lane will be closed to traffic until January 4.
"We will seek to streamline the traffic by altering traffic through diversions and alternative roads," said Brig Mohammad Eid Al Mansori, head of DSF Security and Sports Committee, who also appealed to Dubai's visitors and residents to be cooperative.
The fireworks display will be broadcast by Sama Dubai TV, with seven cameras placed at each location to capture the entire opening ceremony.
Al Maktoum Bridge to be closed from 9-10.30 pm
By Alia Al Theeb, Staff Reporter
Dubai DSF fireworks will lrequire the closure of Al Maktoum Bridge from 9 to 10:30pm today, a senior police official said yesterday.
Major Yousif Al Ali, head of the DSF 2006 Traffic Committee, said the roads leading to the bridge will be closed up to 200 metres from the bridge.
Motorists coming from the Clock Roundabout will have to take the roundabout and go back to the road that leads to Al Garhoud Bridge.
"The inauguration of this year's DSF will take place at many locations including Al Maktoum Bridge. Fireworks will be launched in seven places at different times," Major Al Ali said.
They will start at 9pm from Palm Deira, after 7 minutes, they will be in Jumairah Beach park, at 9:14pm on Dubai-Sharjah road, at 9:30pm in the World Trade Centre area, at 9:33 on Al Maktoum Bridge and Festival City and they will end at 10:09pm in the Global Village.
The right lane of Al Maktoum Bridge will remain closed for motorists going from Deira to Bur Dubai until today.
Major Al Ali said there will be no any festival activities on Al Muraqqabat Street this year, unlike other years.
"This will ease traffic flow because Al Muraqqabat and Al Riqah streets are the two streets that receive a large number of visitors during DSF," he added.
There will be 100 to 120 traffic police in various areas of the festival to organise traffic flow, supervise pedestrian crossings and direct motorists to alternative routes in case of problems, especially during Eid.
"Most festival activities will be on Al Seef Street, where there are plenty of parking areas," Major Al Ali said.
Major Al Ali said the committee prepared an emergency plan that will continue until the last day of the Global Village. The committee increased the number of traffic police for Eid.
Captain Khalid Kinsham, acting director of the Traffic Engineering and Road Safety Department, said there are road signs that guide heavy vehicles to use Al Khail Road instead of the Emirates Road.
"Two police patrols will monitor the movement of heavy vehicles near the Arabian Ranches Roundabout and Al Ain Bridge.
"There will also be a traffic police patrol, a car lifter and an ambulance constantly on duty in front of the Global Village on Emirates Road from both sides," he added.
Artificial speed-brakers to be used for first time
- Traffic police will use artificial speed-breakers on Al Seef Street during the DSF as a new step to improve road safety.
- "We are using these artificial speed-breakers for the first time as a trial. Currently, we have ten of them, each weighs 9kgs," Major Al Ali , Head of the DSF 2006 Traffic Committee, said.
- The speed-breakers will be used during peak hours to make it easy for pedestrians to cross the street, as there are no pedestrian crossings on Al Seef Street. They will be removed if there is no need for them.
- "If they prove to be effective, we will expand their usage to other areas," Major Al Ali added.
- Guidelines for visitors
- Try to come as a group in one vehicle to save parking areas for other visitors.
- Abide by the traffic police instructions.
- Families need to take extra care of their children and should use pedestrian crossings to cross the roads.
Locations
- Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach Park, Al Mamzar area on Dubai
- Sharjah Road, Global Village, Dubai World Trade Centre,
- Maktoum Bridge and Dubai
- Festival City.
