Dubai RTA launches back-to-school safety drive for 400,000 students
New academic year welcomes 230 schools across the emirate
DUBAI – The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has rolled out a comprehensive back-to-school plan for the 2025–2026 academic year.
The strategy includes innovative awareness initiatives, new traffic safety measures around schools, and direct engagement with students, parents, and drivers. It supports the Ministry of Interior’s nationwide campaign under the theme “Traffic Safety for School Students” and reflects RTA’s commitment to maintaining safe and efficient school zones.
The initiatives combine traffic improvements with educational efforts. Students will be greeted with awareness gifts carrying safety instructions in creative formats, while parents and drivers will receive safety tips to guide them through daily school runs.
RTA’s programmes are designed to make the start of the new academic year safe and smooth for the nearly 400,000 students across more than 230 schools in Dubai.
What are the new programmes?
The awareness drive will continue with four key initiatives. The “Golden Rules for Generations’ Safety” programme will reach middle school students, while the “Hello, My School” programme is tailored for kindergarten and primary pupils. For older students, the “Virtual Driving Licence” programme will provide engaging lessons on responsible behaviour in traffic.
To expand the impact, RTA will also support school events at the beginning of the academic year. Educational gifts with QR codes will link students to digital designs explaining road safety instructions. Parents will receive guidance materials covering essential practices such as safe drop-off and pick-up routines, awareness of school bus zones, and vigilance while children board or leave vehicles.
How is Dubai ensuring school safety?
Hussain Al Banna, CEO of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency, emphasised that RTA’s plans were developed in collaboration with Dubai Police to enhance traffic safety around schools. “We are committed to creating the safest conditions for students and staff across all school zones,” he noted.
Dubai’s school population reflects over 185 nationalities, making the back-to-school traffic strategy a significant undertaking. Despite this diversity, Dubai schools have recorded zero traffic-related student fatalities since 2010, a milestone attributed to the continuous rollout of safety measures and cooperation between government and private entities.
Among the key measures are electronic signboards near schools, designed to display and monitor vehicle speeds. These boards have been upgraded to encourage drivers to wear seatbelts and slow down in critical areas. Awareness messages are also disseminated through social media, outdoor billboards, and customer service centres. Partnerships with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority and Emirates Schools Establishment ensure that safety instructions reach both students and parents.
School zones upgraded
In recent years, the School Zones Project has been instrumental in reshaping traffic around educational institutions. It introduced reduced speed limits, red road markings labelled “School Zone” in both Arabic and English, smart signboards, and safe pedestrian crossings. Traffic-calming measures were implemented to slow vehicles and create safer walking routes for children.
Ahead of the new term, Al Banna urged all parents, drivers, and stakeholders to comply with traffic rules. He reminded motorists to use designated pick-up and drop-off points, avoid spaces allocated to People of Determination or emergency vehicles, and strictly adhere to school bus signals and signs.
He further stressed the importance of reducing speed, following traffic regulations, and remaining vigilant to student movement around schools. These precautions, he highlighted, form a protective shield that enables students to begin the academic year in a safe and inspiring environment.