The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai is set to roll out a new pilot initiative focused on school transport pooling during the first quarter of 2026.

The program aims to enhance daily mobility for students while advancing Dubai’s vision for a smart and sustainable transport system. The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with Yango Group and Urban Express Transport. The announcement follows the signing of two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between RTA and the two companies, Dubai Media Office reported.

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Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan, CEO of the Public Transport Agency, signed on behalf of RTA. Islam Abdul Karim, regional head of Yango Group, and Dr Mohammad Al Hashimi, founder and CEO of Urban Express Transport, signed on behalf of their respective companies.

Addressing growing traffic challenges around schools

Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan highlighted the motivation behind the initiative: “In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of private vehicles used to transport students, which directly affects traffic flow around school zones. Through this initiative, RTA aims to offer an alternative school transport solution at affordable rates, helping to improve traffic movement and deliver a more efficient daily mobility experience.”

He emphasised that the pilot will adhere to the highest safety and security standards for school transport and will fully comply with Dubai’s regulatory and legislative frameworks. “The initiative will incorporate smart technological solutions for trip management, vehicle tracking, and operational monitoring, ensuring efficiency and service quality for parents and students alike,” Bahrozyan added.

Pooling buses to boost efficiency

The pilot program involves operating shared buses that serve multiple schools within defined geographic zones. This approach is expected to accelerate student arrivals and reduce congestion around schools. Bahrozyan noted that the initiative aligns with Dubai’s broader strategic objectives, including digital transformation and environmental sustainability.

“The initiative aims to explore innovative school transport models based on pooling, supporting better vehicle utilisation, reducing traffic congestion during peak hours, and raising safety and quality standards in student transport services,” he said. “It represents a step change in developing new models for school transport in Dubai. The pilot will allow us to assess outcomes, measure operational and societal impact, and explore the potential for a wider rollout in the future, reinforcing Dubai’s leadership in smart mobility solutions.”

Private partners bring data-driven innovation

Islam Abdul Karim of Yango Group highlighted the operational advantages of the partnership: “School transport is one of the most complex and congested daily mobility challenges in any city, sitting at the intersection of safety, efficiency, cost, and family routines. Through this pilot with RTA, we are introducing a data-driven school transport pooling model that groups students traveling along similar routes into shared buses operating on optimised schedules.”

He added that the initiative will improve route planning, vehicle utilisation, and real-time oversight, reducing peak-hour traffic and enhancing service reliability. “Our goal is to provide a safer, more affordable, and convenient experience for families,” Karim said.

Dr Mohammad Al Hashimi, founder & CEO of Urban Express Transport, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration: “Urban Express Transport is proud to support this strategic school transport optimization project. By leveraging innovative approaches such as school bus pooling and flexible services, the initiative aims to reduce congestion, improve bus utilisation, and enhance the daily travel experience for students. It aligns perfectly with Dubai’s long-term transport vision, delivering safer, more sustainable, and cost-effective mobility solutions.”

The pilot program represents a significant step toward transforming school transport in Dubai, combining technology, sustainability, and operational efficiency to create smarter, safer, and more convenient travel for students and families alike.

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) in UAE has officially launched the Federal Government Real Estate Assets Platform, a centralised digital system aimed at documenting, managing, and continuously updating data on federal real estate assets in line with the highest standards of transparency and operational efficiency.

The launch marks a key milestone in the government’s broader digital transformation agenda, reinforcing efforts to modernise public asset management and enhance data-driven decision-making across federal entities, a WAM report said.

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The launch event was attended by Younis Haji AlKhoori, undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance, and Mariam Mohamed Al Amiri, assistant undersecretary for the Government Financial Management Sector at the ministry. The event also brought together representatives from federal entities, government officials, and specialists in asset management and digital technologies.

As part of the programme, the event featured a panel discussion exploring the role of artificial intelligence in government asset management, alongside an interactive presentation that offered a live demonstration of the platform’s technical features and operational capabilities.

Regulatory compliance and strategic alignment

The platform was launched in compliance with Article 18 of Federal Decree-Law No. (35) of 2023 concerning Union-Owned Properties. The legislation mandates the Ministry of Finance to establish an electronic registry for federal real estate assets, ensuring unified documentation and governance at the federal level.

AlKhoori emphasised that the platform reflects the ministry’s commitment to the full digital transformation of government resource and asset management. He noted that the initiative aligns with the leadership’s vision of promoting excellence across all sectors by enhancing operational efficiency, rationalising expenditure, and automating procedures.

Enhancing governance and decision-making

According to AlKhoori, the platform is expected to deliver a paradigm shift in the organisation, governance, and management of federal real estate assets. By providing accurate, up-to-date, and reliable data, the system strengthens transparency and supports informed policymaking and strategic planning related to federal properties.

Al Amiri highlighted the platform’s role in unifying federal real estate asset data and improving its quality, while linking it to relevant financial and operational processes. She said this integration will enable faster access to information and improve efficiency in planning and expenditure across federal entities.

She added that the platform has been designed to be practical and easy to use, allowing entities to register and update asset data under unified classifications, manage leasable spaces, and process requests through automated procedures that reduce time and effort while reinforcing transparency and governance.

The platform provides federal entities with a strategic tool to register, monitor, and manage real estate assets through a structured and methodical approach. Its intuitive workflow simplifies classification and review processes while offering a comprehensive suite of digital services that enhance operational efficiency.

The launch represents a significant step toward building an integrated federal asset management system, reinforcing the UAE’s global leadership in public financial management and supporting its vision for a more sustainable and innovative government sector.

The chiefs of many of the world’s major central banks issued a joint statement in support of Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell on Tuesday after the Trump administration threatened him with a criminal indictment.

“We stand in full solidarity with the Federal Reserve System and its Chair Jerome H. Powell,” the heads of the European Central Bank, the Bank of England and nine other institutions said.

“The independence of central banks is a cornerstone of price, financial and economic stability in the interest of the citizens that we serve,” they added.

The US administration’s criminal probe is formally about the renovation of the Fed’s headquarters but Powell called it a “pretext” to win presidential influence over interest rates.

Read: Markets look through Trump-Powell drama as momentum favours risk assets

Dubai Airports and Salik, the operator of Dubai’s road toll system, have signed a 10-year agreement to introduce ticketless parking payments via the Salik e-wallet at Dubai International Airport (DXB), the companies said.

The partnership will enable motorists to pay parking fees automatically using their Salik accounts across all paid car parks at DXB, covering around 7,400 parking spaces at Terminals 1, 2 and 3, as well as the Cargo Mega Terminal.

The e-wallet payment system is scheduled to go live on January 22, enabling drivers to enter and exit parking facilities without needing to collect tickets or stop at payment machines.

The move is expected to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion at airport car parks.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Airports, and Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of Salik, underscoring the strategic importance of the collaboration for Dubai’s transport and aviation infrastructure.

Salik has been expanding the use of its e-wallet

Salik has been expanding the use of its e-wallet beyond tolling as part of a broader push into digital mobility services, while Dubai Airports continues to invest in technology aimed at improving passenger experience and operational efficiency.

Officials stated that the partnership aligns with Dubai’s broader smart city ambitions and efforts to integrate digital payment solutions across its transportation networks.