With record crowds expected for tonight’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, Dubai International (DXB) and Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) have urged departing and arriving travellers to build in extra time and, where possible, use public transport or remote check-in options.
DXB, the world’s busiest international hub, projects more than 385,000 passengers will pass through its terminals between 31 December and the early hours of 1 January. Airport officials are asking travellers to arrive four hours before departure, reminding them that roads around Downtown Dubai and the Palm will see rolling closures for fireworks displays. Metro services will run 24 hours and deliver passengers directly into Terminal 3.
![Dubai & Sharjah airports issue New Year’s Eve travel alert as passenger volumes spike]()
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Sharjah Airport, meanwhile, expects load factors above 95 percent on Air Arabia and other carriers operating out of the emirate. It recommends arriving at least three hours before flight time and highlights its city and mall check-in counters, where passengers can drop bags up to 48 hours in advance.
Both airports have coordinated with immigration authorities to open additional smart-gate lanes and to staff extra counters for manual passport control. Travellers connecting onward are advised to keep at least four-hour layovers to avoid missed flights if security queues lengthen. Mobility teams managing group moves or rotational crews over the holiday week should update travellers on potential road blocks and encourage early online check-in to minimise airport dwell time.
DXB, the world’s busiest international hub, projects more than 385,000 passengers will pass through its terminals between 31 December and the early hours of 1 January. Airport officials are asking travellers to arrive four hours before departure, reminding them that roads around Downtown Dubai and the Palm will see rolling closures for fireworks displays. Metro services will run 24 hours and deliver passengers directly into Terminal 3.
If you realise at the last minute that you still need a UAE visa or any other travel document, VisaHQ can arrange fast, online processing and expert assistance—often without a trip to the embassy. You can check requirements and start an application here: https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/.
Sharjah Airport, meanwhile, expects load factors above 95 percent on Air Arabia and other carriers operating out of the emirate. It recommends arriving at least three hours before flight time and highlights its city and mall check-in counters, where passengers can drop bags up to 48 hours in advance.
Both airports have coordinated with immigration authorities to open additional smart-gate lanes and to staff extra counters for manual passport control. Travellers connecting onward are advised to keep at least four-hour layovers to avoid missed flights if security queues lengthen. Mobility teams managing group moves or rotational crews over the holiday week should update travellers on potential road blocks and encourage early online check-in to minimise airport dwell time.
