Dubai Schools Granted Flexibility to Adjust Timings to Combat Traffic Congestion

Dubai schools have been given the green light to alter their start and finish times in a bid to ease traffic congestion, provided they secure prior approval from the education regulator. According to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, institutions must demonstrate that any adjustments benefit student well-being and receive backing from parents.

Speaking at a Media Majlis in Dubai on Thursday, director general Aisha Miran stated that schools could pursue schedule flexibility rather than adhering to a single emirate-wide timetable. "Any changes to school timings must be approved by KHDA," she said, adding that different curricula and extracurricular activities require adaptable schedules.

While some Dubai schools have already implemented staggered start times to distribute traffic, Ms Miran noted that schedule adjustments alone will not resolve the wider commuting challenge. Long-term solutions will rely on community planning and school locations, supported by the Dubai Education Masterplan (E33), which aims to place schools closer to residential areas.

Ms Miran emphasized a vision where children can walk, bike, or safely ride scooters to class. For families still relying on cars or school buses, the objective is to maintain reasonable commute times, aligning with Dubai's urban planning target of making destinations accessible within 20 minutes. These announcements follow a rise in Dubai private school enrollment, which has reached approximately 406,500 pupils.