UAE sets caps on school bus journey times after parent complaints
The UAE will limit school bus travel to protect student wellbeing. After complaints raised at the Federal National Council (FNC), the Minister of Education Sarah Al Amiri set new caps: 45 minutes for kindergarten and 60 minutes for all other students. The FNC is a consultative body that reviews policy and questions ministers. The minister added that official records show no bus route exceeding two hours, despite parent reports.
What the minister announced
The Ministry of Education will enforce the new limits nationwide. Kindergartners should not spend more than 45 minutes on a bus. Older pupils have a 60-minute ceiling. Essential exceptions may apply on days with traffic accidents or severe weather. The minister also said the ministry found no formal evidence of two-hour routes in its data.
Compliance and what changed this term
Compliance with the approved time limits reached 98.5% in the first term of the current academic year. That marks a clear improvement on previous years. Average journey times fell by 50%, according to the minister. A “compliance rate” is the share of routes meeting the official caps. The ministry credited route reviews and daily monitoring for the gains.
Why routes can still vary
Operational challenges can disrupt planning. Late student registration, for example, forces last-minute changes to routes and stop sequences. Traffic incidents or adverse weather can also slow trips. The minister noted these factors as limited, time-bound exceptions. However, the core rule on 45- and 60-minute caps remains in place.
Oversight, definitions and ongoing reviews
The Ministry of Education conducts regular audits of routes and timetables. A dedicated transport quality unit now tracks daily operations and handles complaints. “Journey time” here means the time a student spends on the bus from pick-up to drop-off at school or home. The ministry will keep reviewing network design to smooth bottlenecks and close any gaps flagged by parents or schools.
What schools and families should do next
Schools should confirm route plans, update stops when enrolments change, and log any incident that pushes a trip beyond the caps. Parents can help by finalising registrations on time and using official channels to report delays. Clear schedules, accurate addresses and punctual pick-ups reduce detours and wait times. The ministry encourages direct feedback to the transport quality unit so recurring issues are fixed fast.
The caps set a clear standard across the system. With tighter oversight and near-universal compliance, officials expect shorter, safer and more predictable journeys for students.
