Dubai RTA to Trial School Bus Pooling Pilot to Cut Traffic Congestion

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is launching a pilot of a school bus pooling initiative in Al Barsha within the next two weeks, with the aim of reducing traffic congestion, cutting travel times and encouraging the use of public transport over private car drop-offs. Under the pilot, students living in the same neighborhood but attending different schools will be grouped into shared buses using a data-driven system that operates similarly to an e-hailing service. The project is being rolled out in partnership with tech company Yango Group and mobility provider Urban Express, aiming to keep the service affordable for families while prioritizing safety and efficiency.

If the initial phase proves successful, the RTA plans to expand the service across Dubai, positioning the pooling model as part of the city’s broader strategy for smart, sustainable mobility and improved daily commuting. Officials said that all existing school transport safety standards will be followed, and that the initiative could help ease peak-hour congestion by reducing the reliance on individual cars for school runs.