Dubai Police Equips Security Guards with Traffic Safety Training Ahead of New Academic Year

Dubai Police organised a series of training and awareness courses on traffic safety rules and guidelines, targeting over 140 security guards across 35 schools. The initiative comes as students and parents gear up for the new academic year beginning on Monday, with over 1,180 public and private schools across the UAE reopening their doors on August 31 to welcome more than 1.277 million students.

The training familiarised participants with traffic signs and guidelines, covering traffic flow regulation during peak drop-off and pick-up hours around the school. Security guards training with the Dubai police also engaged in hands-on scenarios simulating real-life traffic accidents. In addition, they received guidance on ensuring students get on and off buses safely to prevent risks, and on how to respond initially and professionally to traffic or security emergencies until the relevant authorities arrive.

Many schools have adopted phased return-to-school plans with shorter hours for younger pupils during the first week, featuring staggered pick-up and drop-off times for easier management. For parents working in the UAE’s government sector, employees will be allowed to work flexible hours set out by the Federal Authority for Government Resources to take their children to and from schools and nurseries on the first day back.

Anticipating busy roads, the UAE interior ministry announced a one-day traffic safety campaign allowing UAE motorists to get four black points removed from licences if they avoid accidents. Furthermore, Dubai Police will deploy 253 patrols and 28 drones around schools, while the Roads and Transport Authority will increase bus frequencies on more than 30 routes and add taxis in school zones. Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, and Ras Al Khaimah police forces will similarly increase patrols, place officers at crossings, and manage traffic around schools.

Additionally, the UAE’s Minister of Education announced that pupils between kindergarten and Year 2 at UAE public schools will no longer have homework, alongside fresh evaluations for ministry-licensed schools. A specialised training week with around 80 targeted programmes and hybrid workshops was also conducted for more than 24,000 school leaders, teachers, advisors, and support staff.