Dubai’s official Emaar New Year’s Eve celebration returns to Burj Park on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, with doors opening at 12:00 PM in Downtown Dubai. Burj Park’s listed address is Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and the event hotline for inquiries is 800 EMAAR. For security related concerns on event day, the official listing also shows 800 DTCC. If you need help reaching the wider Downtown area around Dubai Mall, Dubai Mall’s contact line is 800 DUBAI MALL, and Burj Khalifa’s UAE contact line is 800 BURJ. Badge collection is mandatory for entry.
Tickets and entry rules at Burj Park
Burj Park is a paid experience open to all age groups, and you need a valid ticket to enter the venue. Adult tickets are listed at AED 997.50 including VAT, while kids tickets for ages 5 to 12 are listed at AED 577.50 including VAT. Children under 5 enter complimentary, although a ticket still must be booked so they can receive a badge for access. Tickets are described as online only, and the official process ties badge allocation to tickets purchased through PLATINUMLIST. Tickets do not include food and beverages.
Badge collection deadline and where it happens
You must collect your Burj Park badge in advance, because the organisers do not offer badge collection or validation on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. The official window runs from Friday, December 26, 2025 through Tuesday, December 30, 2025, with collection points at Dubai Mall and Dubai Hills Mall. On weekdays, collection runs 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM, and on weekends it runs 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM, so you can fit it around work or travel. The deadline is Tuesday, December 30, 2025 no later than 10:00 PM, and the organisers warn that lost badges cannot be replaced. Do not leave badge pickup to the last evening.
What the afternoon and evening feel like
Although the venue opens at 12:00 PM, the on site entertainment is set to begin from 5:00 PM, so you can choose a relaxed daytime arrival or a more focused evening plan. Inside Burj Park, the official guide highlights live entertainment, kids’ workshops, and food trucks and stalls spread across the park, so you can build your own pace instead of rushing a fixed schedule. Seating is first come, first served, with a mix of picnic tables, drum tables, and bean bag style options, so early arrivals usually get the most comfortable spots. Since Burj Park faces the Burj Khalifa show area, the night is designed around uninterrupted viewing of the light, laser, and fireworks moments leading into midnight. Arrive early if you want a good seated spot.
Getting in during closures and choosing the right gate
Road closures are expected as early as 4:00 PM, so your entry plan matters as much as your ticket. The official route says you should access Burj Park via Downtown Gate 5, then continue to the designated entry gate, which is typically referenced as the Mexican Gate or the Opera Gate. At the gate, you must present your badge, then staff will issue a wristband that allows access to event facilities that night. Re entry is not allowed once you leave, so you should plan food, family needs, and restroom timing before you step out. Access will be denied without your badge.
Family friendly planning and stroller rules
Burj Park is positioned as family friendly, and the organisers explicitly mention kids’ workshops and child focused areas as part of the programme. However, families with strollers need to plan their approach, because the official guide instructs stroller users to access Burj Park from Gate 2 on Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard. The same Gate 2 route is also recommended for People of Determination, which can reduce friction at the busier entry points later in the evening. Since re entry is not allowed, it helps to pack essentials like baby items early and keep them organised for checks. Use Gate 2 if you have a stroller.
Parking options before and after 4:00 PM
If you arrive before 4:00 PM, the organisers point guests toward public parking along Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, plus Zabeel Parking or Fountain Views Parking, all on a first come, first served basis. After 4:00 PM, the official plan shifts to remote parking at Al Wasl Club Parking and Al Meydan, Falcon Heritage and Sports Centre, then shuttle buses transfer guests toward the venue area. The shuttle drop off is described around the Dubai Opera bus stop area, and the organisers stress that you must show your badge to use the shuttle. You should keep your badge on you after midnight as well, because the same badge is required to board the shuttle back to the parking area. Keep your badge with you at all times.
Metro taxis and walking choices in Downtown
Public transport can work well, yet you should stay flexible because the organisers note that the Metro may operate but could close depending on crowd conditions and authority decisions. Likewise, taxis can be convenient earlier in the day, but once closures take effect, they may not be able to access Downtown, so a late evening taxi plan can fail without warning. As an alternative, some guests prefer reaching the wider Dubai Mall area earlier, then walking toward the Burj Park zone well before peak congestion builds. If you plan to move on foot, comfortable shoes matter, because the area can involve long detours around controlled checkpoints. Treat the Metro and taxis as “early only” options.
Coming from Abu Dhabi and Sharjah without stress
If you are travelling from Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, the easiest strategy is arriving in Dubai earlier than you normally would for a Downtown night out. Many people choose to enter the area before late afternoon, then hold their spot and enjoy the on site food and family activities until the evening programme ramps up. If you cannot arrive early, a more realistic approach is to use the official remote parking and shuttle plan after 4:00 PM rather than trying to drive directly into Downtown. For the return, the organisers explain that roads and public transport reopen based on authority directions, and Dubai Mall parking exits may be controlled, with departures described around 1:00 AM to 2:00 AM depending on instructions. Plan your return window instead of improvising at 12:30 AM.
What to bring and what to leave at home
Bring your badge, a charged phone, and a light layer, because the evening can feel cool after long outdoor standing. The official rules ban alcohol, glass containers, pets, fireworks, laser pointers, and loud noise devices, and they also restrict outside food and beverages except essential baby items. Personal photos and videos are allowed, yet professional equipment like tripods or drones needs prior approval, so keep your setup simple if you want to avoid issues at the gate. Since security checks happen at entry, you will move faster if you pack light and keep bags easy to inspect. Do not bring prohibited items to the gate.
WARNINGS AND TIPS CLOSING PARAGRAPH
For Wednesday, December 31, 2025 in Downtown Dubai, the forecast points to a hazy sunny day around 24°C, then a mostly clear evening near 20 to 22°C, so wear breathable daytime clothes and carry a light jacket for late night waiting. Also, because road closures may start as early as 4:00 PM, you should either arrive well before mid afternoon or commit to the remote parking and shuttle plan, while keeping your badge ready for transport checks. If you plan to rely on the Metro, remember it may operate but can close based on crowd control decisions, so keep a backup plan such as an early taxi or a pre agreed pickup point outside the closure zone. Ticket prices can change, so treat AED amounts as approximately until your purchase is confirmed, and the most reliable ticketing route is PLATINUMLIST via the official Emaar New Year platform procedures. Go early, collect your badge by Tuesday, December 30, and avoid arriving near 4:00 PM. Planning notes like these are often shaped by practical Downtown experience shared in the editor voice of www.few.ae.
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