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🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates /Culture & Society

'40 minutes for 2km': UAE schools reopen and heavy traffic returns

From Khaleej Times · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • The return of the school year has brought heavier traffic around UAE campuses, especially during morning drop-offs that overlap with office-hour commutes.
  • A Dubai parent said his son's 2km journey home by school bus takes about 40 minutes, while other parents reported long queues around school zones.
  • Traffic operators in Ajman said the first week was unusually busy but conditions were gradually improving as families and staff adjusted.

The school run is back, and so are the queues. Across the UAE, families and schools are dealing with heavier traffic as students return and school journeys overlap with the daily office commute.

My son returns home by school bus. His school finishes at 3pm, but even though we live only about 2km away, it takes around 40 minutes for him to get home.

· Arijit NandiThe Dubai parent describes the length of his son's school-bus journey.

For Dubai parent Arijit Nandi, the distance between school and home is only about 2km, but his son’s afternoon trip takes around 40 minutes by school bus. The bus makes several stops for other children, while the morning drive brings a separate problem: congestion around the campus.

Nandi said his wife had noticed long tailbacks around the U-turns near the school in Emirates Hills. “You can really see the difference now that schools are back,” he said, with roads around drop-off and pick-up areas once again filling with queues.

You can really see the difference now that schools are back

· Arijit NandiHe describes the return of congestion around school areas.

Parents in other Dubai communities, including Arabian Ranches, are also adjusting their schedules. Majd Hakim said the change was immediately visible after schools reopened, with vehicles queuing and moving slowly through school zones. “It’s a familiar part of the school routine every September,” she said, adding that families have to allow extra time.

It’s a familiar part of the school routine every September, the roads get busier, and you have to factor in extra time for the school run.

· Majd HakimThe parent explains how families are adapting to recurring school-season congestion.

The disruption extends beyond Dubai. Mujeeb, the transport in-charge at Woodlem Park School in Al Jurf, Ajman, said the first week brought heavier traffic during school and peak office hours. He said the situation was being managed and traffic was gradually becoming smoother as families and staff settled into their new routines. Morning drop-off remains the more difficult period because it coincides with the wider morning commute.

The first week has seen heavier-than-usual traffic, with some rush during school and peak office hours.

· MujeebThe Ajman school's transport official describes traffic conditions during the first week.
About this summary

Originally published by Khaleej Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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