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From carpooling to limos, Dubai parents explore alternative solutions for school runs
A Grade 11 Dubai student has developed a carpooling platform to help parents living in the same area share rides
- PUBLISHED: Sun 19 Apr 2026, 6:00 AM UPDATED: Sun 19 Apr 2026, 1:07 PM
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Parents in Dubai are exploring alternative modes of transport for their school-going children, although the school bus service will resume from Monday, April 20. From carpooling to taxi rides, many are opting for other services for their convenience.
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CommunityCarpool.org, launched by a Dubai student, is gaining popularity among parents and has over 300 registered users. It helps families living in the same neighbourhood locate each other to share rides.
'It is a free platform that helps commuters find others with similar daily routes so they can coordinate carpooling,” said its founder, Anvith Yalamanchili. “When schools or specific companies contact us, we can create a unique link so that only people within that school or company are matched. We have seen an increase in interest among parents after back-to-school was announced."
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The Grade 11 student at Dwight Global in Dubai explained that he came up with the idea based on his own experience. “What is usually a 15-minute drive dropping my brother off at school turned into 45 minutes because there were three schools in the same area,” he said.
“We kept seeing the same cars from our community going to my brother's school. That's when I realised there were many families taking similar routes, but they had no way to coordinate. This platform helps people in the same community who travel similar routes connect, which reduces unnecessary traffic and makes commutes easier.”
Schools in the UAE will reopen on Monday, April 20, after more than a month of online classes caused by regional tensions. At first, it was announced that school bus services would not be postponed, but later the Ministry of Education clarified that buses will run starting Monday.
Schools will return to in-person learning in phases and must meet strict requirements set by authorities to keep students and staff safe.
Bus pooling and taxis
Earlier this year, Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) started testing a bus pooling service. Urban Express Transport, one of the providers, says more parents have shown interest in this option since the back-to-school announcement.
“Parents are primarily looking for safe, reliable, and professionally managed transportation options for their children,” said the company’s founder, Dr Mohamed Al Hashimi. “To meet this need, we offer several options, such as organised bus pooling and dedicated limo services for families who want more personalised transport. Our current pilot is in the Al Barsha area, but we are working to expand to other locations and are talking with RTA to get the needed approvals.”
Uber has also noticed more parents asking about their services. The company runs Careem School Rides and Uber Teens, which let parents track rides live and contact drivers directly.
“When we look at what parents actually need during this transition, it usually comes down to three things: safety, affordability, and a sense of connection,” said Tala Nsouli, General Manager of Uber in the UAE. “The morning drop-off is already stressful, so parents want to know their kids are getting to class safely without it costing too much.”
