Over the past few years, the number of students using school buses has nearly doubled, according to Dubai Taxi Company (DTC), which serves both private schools and the Ministry of Education, as reported by Khaleej Times.
In 2023, DTC transported over 24,000 students with a fleet of approximately 950 school buses. By the next year, the number of students increased to 37,000, and the fleet grew to over 1,100 buses. This year, about 40,000 students are utilizing DTC’s services, a rise of 16,000 from two years ago, with a fleet now exceeding 1,150 buses.
These figures represent only DTC’s operations and exclude other operators like the STS group. However, the increase in bus usage is reducing road traffic, cutting carbon emissions, and saving money for families. Transportation experts are advocating for subsidies to support operators in reducing costs for parents.
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Thomas Edelmann, founder of RoadSafetyUAE, commented on August 25, 2025, at the start of the academic year: “It’s wonderful to see more school buses on the roads as they help reduce private car usage.”
Thomas Edelmann
He continued: “We have long advocated for subsidizing school bus transportation. It would be great if authorities could assist operators by providing incentives to lower operational costs, ultimately reducing expenses for parents.”
Utilization Rate
Edelmann also highlighted the improvement in bus utilization rates. He noted that utilization increased from 25 students per bus (24,000 ÷ 950) in 2023 to about 35 students per bus (40,000 ÷ 1,150) this year.
“This reflects efforts by schools and parents to maximize bus usage,” Edelmann explained. “Higher utilization is beneficial for operators because it distributes costs over more users, providing potential savings for parents.”
Edelmann emphasized that school buses offer a safer, more convenient, and cost-effective transportation option. A KHDA study showed that 85% of students using school buses were happier compared to those using other modes of transport.
Emirati road safety expert Dr. Mustafa Aldah emphasized: “Increased school bus use is beneficial as each large bus can remove about 40 cars from school routes. Adding 50 buses could eliminate roughly 2,000 cars, easing traffic and reducing emissions.”
Aldah, founder of MA-Traffic Consulting, noted that longer commutes are a trade-off for using buses, suggesting a balanced approach.
Dr. Mustafa Aldah
“Some schools are exploring carpooling among parents in the same area to further reduce congestion,” he added.
Smart Features
DTC’s school buses are equipped with smart features, including cameras to ensure no student is left behind, movement detection systems, and emergency alert connections with management centers.
The buses also have advanced GPS tracking and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems to streamline student boarding and disembarking, along with automatic fire-suppression systems.
DTC has enhanced services for People of Determination in partnership with Emirates School Establishment to boost public school user numbers.
Meanwhile, STS Group announced a partnership with GEMS Education to operate a fleet of all-electric and biofuel buses at GEMS School of Research and Innovation in Dubai Sports City, potentially reducing private car travel by 30% and cutting emissions by 1.2 kilograms per student.
