A Pilot Initiative to Participate in Improving the Efficiency of School Student Transportation.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has revealed its intention to launch a new pilot initiative on “school transport sharing” during the first quarter of 2026, as part of its ongoing efforts to develop a smart and sustainable transport system and enhance the efficiency of daily commuting for school students in cooperation with the Yango Group and Urban Express Transport.
This follows the Roads and Transport Authority’s signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the aforementioned companies to implement this initiative on a pilot basis.
The MoUs were signed on behalf of the RTA by Ahmed Hashim Bahroozian, CEO of the Public Transport Agency, and on behalf of the Yango Group by Islam Abdul Karim, Regional Director of the Yango Group. Dr. Mohammed Al Hashmi, Founder and CEO of Urban Express Transport, also signed on behalf of the company.
Ahmed Hashim Bahroozian, CEO of the Public Transport Agency at the Roads and Transport Authority, said: “Over the past years, we have observed an increase in the number of private vehicles transporting students to their schools, which affects the flow of traffic around school areas. Based on this, we are working to make this initiative an alternative for transporting students to and from schools at reasonable costs.”
Behrouzian stressed that the pilot initiative will be implemented according to the highest safety and security standards adopted in school transport, and in accordance with the regulatory and legislative frameworks in force in the emirate, as it will include employing smart technological solutions to manage trips, track vehicles, and ensure operational efficiency and quality of service provided to parents and students.
He explained that the initiative includes operating shared buses serving a number of schools located within specific geographical areas, which will effectively contribute to students arriving faster and enhancing the flow of traffic around school areas in the Emirate of Dubai.
Behrouzian said: “The initiative aims to explore innovative models for school transport based on the principle of sharing, which contributes to improving vehicle utilization, reducing traffic congestion during peak hours, and raising the levels of safety and quality in student transport services, in addition to supporting the strategic directions of the Emirate of Dubai in the areas of digital transformation and environmental sustainability.”
The CEO of the Public Transport Agency at the Roads and Transport Authority concluded his remarks by saying: “This initiative is a qualitative step towards developing new models for school transport in Dubai, in preparation for evaluating its results and measuring its operational and societal impact, and studying the possibility of generalizing it in the future on a wider scale, which will enhance Dubai’s position as a leading global city in smart and sustainable mobility solutions.”
Islam Abdel Karim, Regional Director of the Yango Group, said: “School transport is one of the most prominent and complex challenges of daily commuting in cities, given the intersection of safety, efficiency and cost requirements with the daily routine of families. This pilot project comes in cooperation with the Roads and Transport Authority to implement a data-driven joint school transport model, which relies on grouping students who take similar routes within shared vehicles operating according to improved routes and timetables.”
Abdul Karim added: “The project aims to improve route planning, increase vehicle utilization efficiency, and enhance real-time operational monitoring, which will contribute to reducing traffic congestion during peak hours, improving service reliability, and providing a safer, more efficient, and more cost-effective service for families. The project also focuses on the highest standards of safety and compliance through clear operational procedures, continuous monitoring, and a rapid response to any operational or safety-related issues. Immediate follow-up of operations contributes to enhancing transparency and facilitating the daily movement of both parents and schools.”
Dr. Mohammed Al Hashemi, Founder and CEO of Urban Express Transport, said: “Urban Express Transport is proud to support this strategic project in collaboration with the Roads and Transport Authority, which aims to alleviate traffic congestion, improve the use of school transport, and enhance the daily commute service for students. Through innovative methods such as school bus sharing and flexible services, this initiative contributes to providing safer, more affordable, and more sustainable transportation solutions, in line with Dubai’s long-term vision for transportation.
