Transport providers are focusing on coordination and communication with schools and families, especially for students opting for in-person learning.
With school transport services across the United Arab Emirates set to resume from Monday (April 20), major operators have confirmed full readiness to support students returning to classrooms, in coordination with individual school schedules.
According to Steve Burnell, CEO of STS Group Dubai, operations will begin at full scale from day one rather than gradually ramping up. “We are fully prepared to operate at scale from day one. Across our network of over 4,000 buses serving more than 120,000 students, our fleet, teams, and systems have remained active and ready throughout,” he said.
“Services are being deployed in coordination with each school’s schedule, ensuring alignment with each institution’s specific requirements from the outset,” he said.
Other operators echoed a similar approach, saying that while services will be fully operational, deployment will be aligned with each school’s reopening schedule to ensure smooth coordination.
“We are fully prepared and have been ready since the Eid holidays, with all operations up and running,” said Farah Shah, Head of Operations & Transportation at Arab Falcon Bus Rental. “For schools starting on Monday, buses will operate from Day 1, and for those opening on Tuesday, we will align accordingly. So effectively, it will be a smooth, school-by-school rollout rather than a phased delay from our side.”
Staffing in place
Operators also confirmed that staffing levels are sufficient, with teams already in place across the country. STS Group Dubai said it has maintained full operational readiness, with drivers, bus guardians, supervisors, and control teams prepared to resume services without disruption.
“Our operating model is built on continuity and resilience, and we have maintained full readiness across all functions,” said CEO Steve Burnell, adding that training and planning continued during the break to ensure seamless service delivery.
Similarly, Shah noted that most staff are already in the UAE and ready to support the restart, with no expected delays and fully staffed operations.
Final coordination under way
In the lead-up to reopening, transport providers are focusing on coordination and communication with schools and families, particularly those opting for in-person learning. Services are being managed through centralised control systems, with routes activated in line with school schedules and real-time updates shared with parents via digital platforms.
Operators are also finalising route planning and confirming ridership with families, with confirmations expected to be completed within a short timeframe to ensure a smooth start to services.
