Dubai Traffic: Will Staggered School Timings Reduce Congestion?

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

As Dubai residents cope with the increase in traffic, school leaders have said that implementing staggered school timings without corresponding workplace adjustments may be an additional strain on parents. It could also present logistical challenges for families.

The debate has gained momentum amid a surge in traffic, particularly during school hours, leading to severe congestion and long tailbacks.

Notably, Dubai's vehicle growth rate has exceeded 8 per cent, significantly outpacing the global average of 2 per cent.

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Meanwhile, Bloom World Academy in Dubai adopts a flexible school schedule and is one of the first school in the Emirates to implement a 9am start time, which they believe helps balance students' learning with family life.

John Bell, Founding Principal of Bloom World Academy, said,“We've reimagined what a school day can look like. With our later start time of 9am, we're not just supporting student wellbeing - we're actively prioritising it. Children learn best when they're rested, happy and feel heard, and that's exactly what our personalised approach allows.”

Bell stressed that every student follows a learning path that's uniquely theirs, within a setting that nurtures both academic and personal growth.

“We're proud to offer families an education that adapts to their lifestyle, without ever compromising on excellence. What's more, the later start time gives families the gift of time -- whether it's a shared breakfast or a calmer morning routine, it's making a real difference to daily life. It also gives our teachers valuable time with their own families in the mornings, and crucially, the space to organise their day so they're at their very best when teaching,” added Bell.

Constant reviewing of situation is imperative

Schools pointed out that given the current traffic situation, they recognise that the school day, its timings, and logistics should be reviewed regularly and annually.

Akram Tarik, Principal/CEO, GEMS Founders School – Al Mizhar, said,“This ensures we take into account the curriculum needs, operational logistics, and feedback from parent and students as key stakeholders. Staggered timings could indeed be a viable solution to alleviate congestion, but this would need to be carefully coordinated with nearby schools to avoid simply shifting the issue to another part of the day. Staggered timings could be effective in reducing congestion, particularly during peak drop-off and pick-up times.”

Collaborating with neighbouring schools

However, they stated its success would depend on collaboration with neighbouring schools and businesses to ensure a cohesive approach.

“Without this coordination, the risk of displacing traffic congestion to other times or areas remains high. Some parents, particularly working parents, may appreciate adjustments that align better with their schedules. Others may find it challenging if it conflicts with their work or caregiving responsibilities. Staff and students might benefit from later start times, as research suggests improved sleep and productivity, but this would need to be balanced with operational logistics, such as bus schedules and sibling coordination,” added Tarik.

Other headteachers also emphasised on careful planning, including considerations for bus departure and return times with the availability of guardians at home for adjusted timings.

Chitra Sharma, Principal, JSS Private School, said,“When considering the broader impact of staggered school timings across the Dubai community, several challenges arise, particularly for working parents. This would be especially difficult for parents who have more than one child or those with fixed working hours.”

They explained the proposed staggered timings may force parents to adjust their schedules which can create added stress and logistical issues.

She added,“For staggered timings to work, employers in the region would need to adopt more flexible working hours or consider remote working options to accommodate these changes. Such flexibility would provide much-needed support to parents, enabling them to manage the new school schedules without significant disruption to their work-life balance. Without these workplace adjustments, implementing staggered timings could lead to increased pressure on families.”

Some school zones implement staggered start times

To improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in school zones, some institutions in the city have already implemented staggered start times in coordination with their neighbouring schools.

Fatima Martin, Principal/CEO, GEMS New Millennium School – Al Khail, said,“We have already implemented staggered start times between our school and our two neighbouring schools, GEMS International School – Al Khail and GEMS Wellington Academy – Al Khail, and I believe this has been beneficial.”

She added,“It's important to stagger timings across clusters of schools rather than mandating them from an external body. This allows principals the freedom to exercise discretion and advise timing changes that best suit their specific school environments.”

What parents feel?

However, parents, are divided on the issue, with some viewing it as a positive initiative, while others believe it could negatively affect their work schedules, causing disruption to their daily routines.

Arijit Nandi said,“Staggered school start times could significantly improve the morning routine for parents, reducing stress, easing congestion, and ensuring a smoother drop-off experience. Instead of spending extra time stuck in traffic, parents could use that time productively elsewhere.”

The Indian expat explained currently, the school run for him takes at least 30 minutes for a round trip, largely due to heavy congestion at signals, where long lines of cars crawl forward.

He added,“Younger children often become restless, making the ride even more challenging. Meanwhile, older students, fearing the consequences of being marked late three times which leads to parental calls and potential disciplinary action, often get off at signals and crossing busy roads just to make it on time. A staggered system could solve this.”

American expat Natalia Miranda shared her concerns about a later school start time, emphasising the disruptions it would cause to daily routines.

“If school starts later, kids will wake up later, which means the entire evening routine will also need to shift. I have a younger child, and my work start time remains the same, so this change wouldn't help. If kids take the bus, like mine does, they'll end up stuck in rush-hour traffic. Stay-at-home parents might find it easier to manage, but others don't have that flexibility. Besides, if school starts later, kids will want to stay up later, which throws off the whole schedule.”

She also pointed out that co-curricular activities (CCAs) would be affected.“Right now, my son's basketball practice is at 6pm With a later start time, it could shift to 7 or 8pm. It's not just a morning change - it impacts everything.”

However, Miranda acknowledged that a later start works for some families.“A friend of mine has a child at Bloom World Academy and loves the schedule. She works European hours, and finds it convenient. But for those working locally, it's much harder to manage.”

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