SADEQ ALKHOORI (ABU DHABI)
Nearly 10,000 school buses are being readied as Emirates Transport prepares to move more than 285,000 students across the UAE in the new academic year.
The operation covers more than 630 public and private schools and educational institutions, supported by around 10,000 drivers, a similar number of transport and safety supervisors, and almost 10,000 daily routes. WAM has reported Emirates Transport’s readiness of around 10,000 school buses for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Tariq AlAwadhi, Commercial Lead Expert, Business Excellence at Emirates Transport, told Aletihad the company is preparing for “one of the largest and most integrated school transport operations in the country”.
The preparations come ahead of August 31, when students are scheduled to return for the 2026-2027 academic year under the Ministry of Education calendar.
They also coincide with the Ministry of Interior’s Accident-Free Day campaign, which allows eligible motorists to receive a four black-point deduction if they register, take the pledge and meet the campaign conditions on the first school day.
Smarter routes
Among the key preparations is Smart Routes Optimisation, a project that uses data and modern technologies to improve school bus route planning.
AlAwadhi said the project “moves route planning from the traditional approach to smarter planning based on data and modern technologies”.
The system analyses student residence data, school locations, student numbers, bus capacity and geographic distribution to identify safer and more efficient routes, with the aim of reducing journey times and improving the student experience.
Emirates Transport said its central operations room monitors bus movement in real time, including locations, route adherence, schedules, delays and operational issues. Smart applications, including Hafilaty, allow parents to track trips, receive notifications and communicate with bus teams.
Training and safety checks
Training is another major part of the preparations, with refresher sessions targeting nearly 10,000 drivers and around 10,000 transport and safety supervisors.
Each driver benefits from 37 training programmes, while each supervisor receives 21 programmes covering the duties and scenarios they may face during school transport operations.
Before buses return to service, the fleet undergoes preventive maintenance and safety inspections through 25 approved service centres across the UAE. The checks cover mechanical and electrical systems, air-conditioning, seatbelts, fire extinguishers, emergency exits, first-aid kits and other safety equipment.
A shared responsibility
For parents, the first school bus run begins before the bus arrives.
Fatima Al Ali, a mother of three, said she starts restoring the routine gradually before school begins.
“With three children, I try to bring the routine back gradually before school starts,” she told Aletihad.
Liz Ann Mathew, School Counsellor at The British International School Abu Dhabi, said sleep routines are central to helping children return to school calmly.
“Sleep is the foundation for a child’s emotional wellbeing, learning, attention, and behaviour,” she told Aletihad.
For motorists, AlAwadhi said school bus safety depends on everyone who shares the road.
“We always remind drivers of our core slogan: ‘The student is a trust," he said.
“Protecting them requires the highest levels of attention, responsibility and commitment to traffic laws around school transport zones and school surroundings.”