Yango Ride Redefines School Transportation in Dubai with a Smart and Sustainable Model Subheadings:

As part of Dubai’s efforts to promote smart and sustainable mobility, Yango Ride has launched a shared school transport project in collaboration with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The project aims to provide students with a safer and more efficient daily commute, reduce congestion around schools, and leverage technology and data to enhance performance and ensure smooth trips. We spoke with Daoud Asaad, General Manager, Yango Ride UAE, about the details of the initiative and its potential benefits for the development of the public transport system.

Daoud Asaad, General Manager, Yango Ride UAE

Can you give us an overview of Dubai’s school pooling project and what it aims to achieve
The school pooling project in Dubai is an innovative step in redefining the daily commute for students aged 14 and above. Launched in January 2026 in partnership with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Yango Group, we use shared SUVs to transport students from neighboring communities along optimized routes. This approach groups students from different schools, offering families a more flexible, efficient, and cost-effective solution.

The project aims to reduce congestion around schools, facilitate safe and reliable student transportation, and ensure adherence to precise daily schedules. Additionally, the use of technology allows for real-time monitoring of routes and trips, ensuring continuous operational efficiency and service improvement.

What lessons from the school pooling experience could be applied to the city’s wider transport system
The core principle lies in grouping passengers traveling along similar routes into optimized shared trips, rather than relying solely on fixed routes or on-demand services. This approach reduces the number of individual trips, alleviates congestion, and enhances the reliability of transportation for users.

The project also shows that combining planned schedules with real-time data and analytics can make operations more efficient while keeping service comfortable and dependable. For example, data can help design optimal routes, predict demand, and adjust schedules based on traffic conditions.  This approach paves the way for applying similar shared mobility models to public transport, corporate shuttles, or other community transit solutions, ensuring a seamless and dependable user experience.

How do technology and data support the success of this initiative
Technology and data form the backbone of any successful project. Real-time monitoring of each vehicle and trip ensures adherence to schedules and student safety, while providing transparency for parents. Smart analytics are used to design more efficient routes and determine pick-up and drop-off points suited to residential areas.

These tools allow parents to track their children’s vehicles in real time, while enabling operators to fine-tune routes and continuously improve performance, ensuring a safe and reliable daily commuting experience.

Could similar models work for workplaces or other predictable transport needs
The same principles—planned routes, optimized shared trips, and real-time monitoring can be applied to corporate shuttles or any recurring transport requirements across the region. Any scenario where passengers regularly travel along similar routes can benefit from pooling, reducing the number of vehicles, lowering costs, and improving schedule adherence.

Implementing data-driven planning and organized schedules makes these models more efficient, reduces traffic congestion and emissions, and provides a smooth and reliable experience for commuters, just as proven in the school pooling project.

How does this initiative fit into Dubai’s broader smart mobility plans

The school pooling project is a key component of Dubai’s strategy for smart and sustainable mobility. It reflects the Roads and Transport Authority’s goals of reducing congestion, promoting shared transportation, and integrating technology into daily commuting. By piloting a smart and organized model at the school level, the project establishes a foundation that can be expanded to other transport sectors and modes in the future.

The initiative also reinforces Dubai’s commitment to innovation in improving traffic flow, enhancing safety, boosting operational efficiency, and promoting environmentally friendly mobility, marking an important step toward a fully integrated and intelligent urban transport system.