Dubai has launched a pilot school transport pooling service aimed at reducing traffic congestion, lowering costs, cutting travel times, and shrinking carbon emissions during peak school hours.
The initiative, rolled out last week by Roads and Transport Authority in partnership with Yango Group and Urban Express, introduces shared SUV transport for students travelling to nearby schools along similar neighbourhood routes. The programme is currently in its trial phase and could later be expanded to other sectors if successful.
How parents can register
Parents with children enrolled in participating schools can register their interest through Yango’s online portal or via the Urban Express platform. Onboarding is handled on a rolling basis, with routes activated based on demand, operational feasibility, and coordination with schools.
Once registered and approved, students are expected to begin using the service within one to two weeks.
“The rollout is being managed in stages to ensure service quality, clear communication with families, and smooth coordination with schools,” said Islam Abdul Karim, Regional Head of Yango Group Middle East.
Parents whose schools or residential areas are not yet covered can still sign up to support future expansion planning.
Pricing during the pilot phase
The service is currently offered through a monthly subscription model with online payments only. Introductory pricing ranges between Dh800 and Dh1,000 per month. Pay-as-you-use options are not available at this stage, as consistent attendance is essential for efficient route pooling.
Urban Express founder and CEO Dr Mohamad Al Hashimi said term-based subscription plans may be considered in the future, subject to feasibility studies and regulatory approvals.
A senior RTA official recently stated that Dubai aims for 60 per cent of students to use shared or school transport within the next three years. The new pooling service is designed to support this goal.
Areas and schools included
The pilot initially targets high-congestion school clusters, starting with Al Barsha and surrounding neighbourhoods, where traffic pressure and parking constraints are most severe during peak hours.
Schools included in the pilot phase include Al Mawakeb School Al Barsha, American School of Dubai, Bloom World Academy, Brighton College Dubai, Dubai Heights Academy, Dubai International Academy, Dubai Schools Corporation schools, several GEMS Education schools, Kings School Al Barsha, Nord Anglia International School, Repton Al Barsha, and Safa Community School, among others.
Expansion into additional communities will take place in phases, based on demand, route viability, and regulatory approvals.
How routes and schedules work
Unlike traditional fixed bus routes, the pooled SUV service uses demand-based routing. Students from the same neighbourhoods are grouped together and transported in shared vehicles aligned with their school schedules.
“Routes and schedules are planned in advance, aligned with school start and finish times, and monitored in real time,” Abdul Karim explained. “Vehicles operate from defined parking zones serving several neighbouring schools, helping avoid unnecessary detours and keeping journey times within a 60-minute limit.”
Pick-up and drop-off points are selected based on proximity to students’ homes, with timings adjusted to meet individual school requirements. During the pilot phase, routes and stops may be refined based on operational performance and feedback from schools.
