UAE Caps School Bus Rides at 45–60 Minutes After Parent Complaints
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Minister of Education sets new limits on student bus journey times following concerns raised at the FNC.
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If your little sibling has been spending forever on the school bus, here’s some good news.
The UAE has officially capped school bus journey times at 45 minutes for kindergarten students and 60 minutes for all other pupils, following complaints from parents that some children were spending over two hours a day in transit.
What Sparked the Change
The issue was raised during a Federal National Council (FNC) session, where concerns were shared about students staying on buses for two hours or more — leaving them tired before they even reach class.
In response, Minister of Education Sarah Al Amiri confirmed that new maximum journey times are now enforced.
She also clarified that the Ministry has no official data showing any route exceeding two hours, but acknowledged that parents’ concerns were taken seriously.
Compliance Is Already High
According to the Ministry, compliance with approved time limits has reached 98.5 percent in the first term of the current academic year.
Even better, the school transport system has achieved a 50 percent reduction in average journey times compared to previous years.
Why Delays Still Happen
The Minister noted that occasional delays can still occur due to traffic accidents, bad weather, or other unexpected situations.
Another major factor? Late student registrations, which can disrupt route planning and make transport logistics more complicated.
To address this, the Ministry now has a dedicated transport quality unit that monitors daily operations and handles complaints related to school buses.
With tighter monitoring and clearer time limits in place, the goal is simple: shorter rides, less fatigue, and smoother school days for students across the UAE.