Jumeirah Group to host Burj Al Arab beach party

Dubai-based hotelier Jumeirah Group will host its first New Years Eve party on the Burj Al Arab beach this year, the group has said. Partygoers will be able to bring in the new year on the beach overlooking one of the emirate’s most famous hotels for AED650 ($177) per person. Tickets are inclusive of a bottle of champagne per couple and snacks. Designed to resemble a billowing sail, Burj Al Arab soars to a height of 321m, dominating the Dubai skyline. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on Tuesday unveiled a series of plans aimed at reducing congestion on the roads in the Downtown Dubai area. The metro will be running services on the Red Line every three minutes between 12am and 5.30am while a park and ride scheme will create around 10,000 parking spaces at several sites including Meydan, Dubai World Trade Center and Zabeel Park, all of which will be served by 63 extra buses. There will be an extra 4,000 taxis deployed during the night, the RTA said. The UAE on Monday confirmed all federal ministries and entities will be closed on Sunday, January 1, 2012 with work resuming on Monday, January 2. Labour minister Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash also announced January 1 would be a public holiday for the private sector. The UAE's banking sector will remain closed on January 1, according to a central bank circular.