Herald the New Year with pomp and glory atop a boat - Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has made the arrangements for residents and visitors to enjoy the pyrotechnic spectacles happening across the city on New Year's Eve by lining up its marine transport services Water Bus Water taxi Dubai Ferry and Abra.

Metro tram to operate for 40 hours without break The Dubai Metro and tram will operate nonstop for 40 hours from December 31 to January 2 2016.

The Red Line of the Metro service will begin at 5.30am and continue up to 1am on January 2 while the Green Line will start from 5.50am. The Dubai Tram will start at 6.30am on December 31 and continue up to 1am on January 2.

Buses in Dubai also will extend working hours during the holidays.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that all paid parking zones in Dubai will be free of charge except the Fish Market parking lot and the multi-level parking terminal. The parking fees system will be reactivated on January 2 2016.

Yousef Al Reda CEO of RTA's corporate administrative support services sector said: "All customer service centres would be off duty on ... January 1 2016 and will resume duty on January 3.

"All vehicles testing and registration centres will be off duty on January 1 and will resume duty on January 2 except the Tasjeel Al Qusais Tasjeel Al Barsha Quick Vehicle Testing and Registration Centre at Al Qusais and Platinum Vehicle Testing Centre at The Dubai Mall - all of which will be operational during the holidays."

Meanwhile Dubai Metro Tram and bus services will operate non-stop from Thursday to Saturday except for a partial closure of Burj Khalifa Metro Station on New Year's eve.

Mansour Rahama Al Falasi Director of Marine Transport RTA said: "The RTA is mobilising its efforts to offer a new marine transit experience giving riders a superb opportunity to live the thrilling moments of festivities held by Burj Khalifa Burj Al Arab the Atlantis and the Dubai Water Front through sea cruises aboard marine transit modes."

"The Dubai Ferry Water Bus and the Water Taxi have special appeal to Dubai residents visitors and tourists thanks to the picturesque beaches of the city which also boasts of an array of tourist icons such as the World Islands Nakheel islands among other tourist destinations and deluxe hotels.

The launch of this quality service will add a further momentum to the marine transit modes during the event.

Journeys of the three marine transit modes (Water Bus Water Taxi and Dubai Ferry) will start at 10pm and end at 1am.

Abras will offer services from 11pm to 12pm January 1.

Dhanusha Gokulan The resident transport and traffic expert with a touch of music culture and youth. I report on everything from rent hikes to traffic jams from 'most expensive' experiences to tallest buildings from encouraging upcoming talents to camels laughing. I've been a journalist for seven years and I am ridiculously passionate about music books internet memes Facebook procrastination and the occasional sport activity (candycrush).