Praise for safe Dubai new year drivers

DUBAI // Despite roads in and around the city being gridlocked with thousands of cars on New Year's Eve no accidents were reported and only five drivers were arrested for drink-driving.

The celebrations attracted almost half a million revellers and Dubai chief traffic prosecutor, Salah Bu Faroosha, said: "This was a great start to the year, and we hope that drivers continue to follow the traffic rules and guidelines in 2011 to achieve a zero per cent accident rate," he said.

While thousands spent hours in traffic jams in the early hours of 1-1-11, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) stationed extra staff and extended Metro and bus services to 4.30am.

Emaar estimated that 500,000 people converged on Downtown Dubai to watch the midnight firework display at the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, making the Dubai Mall Metro the busiest rail station.

More than 178,000 travellers used the Metro on the last day of 2010, according to the RTA.